A strong board that works together is vital for nonprofit organizations to achieve their mission. Collaboration can be a difficult task for many boards. This article provides suggestions for building and fostering an effective nonprofit collaborative board.
Communication is the key. Be clear with new members about their duties and obligations. It is important to clearly define the roles of each partner in the relationship. This will ensure that all members actively participate in board meetings, are prepared to discussions and fully agree with the organization’s goals and vision. It’s also important to explain the financial expectations of both new and existing members. This will encourage healthy discussion and help manage expectations.
Nonprofits have limited staff, skills and resources to accomplish all that they would like to achieve. Collaboration with other nonprofits can allow them to reach a wider audience and have a greater impact. However, nonprofits must carefully evaluate the projects they decide to collaborate on and ensure that all parties gain. This will facilitate positive outcomes and create win-win situations.
In the case above, Family Focus & CYC were able to leverage their resources to provide more services. Both organizations were able increase their reach and assist more families without increasing their budgets. It also allowed CYC to send new clients to Family Focus and vice versa. This partnership led to an increase in the number of families being served and a greater societal change than either of the organizations could achieve on its own.