269. LIVE! from Phoenix: Build Better Boards - Sabrina Walker Hernandez, Jazmin Chavez, Tammy Tibbetts, and Skyler Badenoch

Build Better Boards, We Are For Good Podcast, Responsive Nonprofit Summit

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Overview

Join Jon + Becky for this Friday's episode alongside a panel of legit experts on Building Better Boards. We talk about creating active boards comprised of diverse voices, lived experiences, and representing the population of people served by the mission. Special thanks to Virtuous for convening this discussion with our panel experts: Skyler Badenoch (Hope for Haiti), Sabrina Walker Hernandez (Saving World Hope), Jazmin Chavez (Hispanics in Philanthropy) and Tammy Tibbetts (She's the First) 👊

The Build Better Series

Today’s conversation is a LIVE replay of one of the dynamic panel conversations at the 2022 Responsive Nonprofit Summit presented by Virtuous. To get access to bonus resources from all these sessions, visit our RNS page at weareforgood.com/rns.

Today’s Guest Panelists

Skyler Badenoch - CEO, Hope for Haiti
Sabrina Walker Hernandez - President & CEO of Supporting World Hope
Jazmin Chavez - VP of Innovation, Equity and Communications at Hispanics in Philanthropy
Tammy Tibbetts - CEO, She's the First

“Today for a board to be progressive, and effective and impactful, it’s essential that there is a diversity of how people self identify, of the industries they represent, the skills that they have, and the resources that they can bring to the table.”

— Tammy Tibbetts, CEO, She's the First

Episode Transcript

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Episode Overview

Tone setting (2:00)
What a modern fundraising board looks like (10:00)
Traditionally, we have chosen our board members through a pool of volunteers. Is that a practice? (12:00)
The current state of boards in the United States (16:00)
Turnover in regards to your board (24:00)
Navigating difficult conversations within your board (28:00)
Inspiring + activating your board (30:00)
How the panelists personally have felt activated and inspired within the boards they serve on (36:00)

Powerful quotes

“Today for a board to be progressive, and effective and impactful, it's essential that there is a diversity of how people self identify, of the industries they represent, the skills that they have, and the resources that they can bring to the table.” -Tammy

“Just because it works at one organization may not mean that it works at another organization.” -Sabrina

“Especially if you're a philanthropic organization, nonprofit organization, and if you're a nonprofit organization, serving communities of color, your board should reflect the communities that you serve, because that is going to be able to guide the type of work that the community is asking for.“ -Jazmin

“Take a look at where you are actually pulling your talent from.” -Jazmin

“I think board terms are critical to the health of the organization.” -Skyler

“I believe in board terms, I absolutely do. The board had one year, two year three year terms, but I truly feel and it's been proven that if people are producing, I think they claim their spot, and they deserve to be there and they continue to produce, then they should be allowed to serve.” -Sabrina

“I think what's really key is reminding yourself that don't just save these conversations for when it's time to have the quarterly board meeting.” -Tammy

“We have found, at least for our organization, our board is pretty actively involved in terms of helping us frame what our strategic planning our strategic vision is for the next couple of years.” -Jazmin

“I wonder how many of us are thinking about infusing joy into our work?” -Becky

“Start off with a good recruitment packet of recruitment process, a good orientation, and back to board meetings, making them fun, but not only making them fun, but making them impactful.” -Sabrina

“To me, it's the personal relationship with the team and the organization.” -Skyler

“I'm looking at ways in which again, my talents can really support the mission and the vision of the board and the organization and the communities that they're trying to advocate for.” -Jazmin

“We really keep top of mind, what are the milestone moments where you can really rally people to show up in person?” -Tammy

“Those are the moments we're going to take advantage of, to really surprise and delight them and give them an experience that powers their passion for the year ahead.” -Tammy

“Interaction with board is absolutely critical.” -Becky