To help non-profit organizations effectively execute on their missions they require a board that is collaborative. But for many boards that collaborate, it is a challenge to overcome. This article outlines some key strategies for establishing and sustaining an effective collaborative board.
Communication is crucial. Be clear with new members on their roles and responsibilities. It is crucial to define the roles of each member of the partnership. This will ensure that all members actively participate in board meetings, are prepared to discussions, and fully support the vision and goals of the organization. In addition, it’s important to define the expectations of financial contributions for new and current members. This will help to foster a healthy discussion and help manage expectations.
Nonprofits are limited in terms of staff, expertise and financial resources. Collaboration with other nonprofits allows them to reach a larger audience and to have greater impact. Nonprofits must be careful when choosing the projects with which they are willing to collaborate, and ensure that everyone is benefitting. This will facilitate positive outcomes and create win-win situations.
In the case above, Family Focus & CYC were able leverage their resources to provide more services. This allowed both organizations to increase their reach and assist more families, without increasing their budgets. This also allowed CYC to refer new clients to Family Focus and vice versa. This partnership resulted an increase in families served and a more significant social change than either organization could have accomplished on their own.