Developing an Annual Action Plan for Your Board

In many staffed nonprofits, annual planning with the board looks like this:

1. The staff prepares a plan that summarizes what they will accomplish through the organization’s major initiatives, programs, and development activities.
2. The board oversees progress, receives updates, and gives input.
3. End of story.

What’s missing? The governance game plan. Invariably, if the organization’s plans focus exclusively on “the work” (wetlands, advocacy campaigns, trails, etc.), governance gets short changed. Precious board meeting time fills up hearing reports and reacting to day-to-day issues, leaving little room for financial oversight, board fundraising, the executive director’s annual review, board development, and other important responsibilities.

How can you turn that around? One powerful technique is to develop an annual plan for what the board will accomplish during the year. It’s a practical tool that shifts the board’s focus to governance and fundraising, creates accountability, and – done right – takes the guess work out of board meeting agendas. The board becomes proactive about its governance tasks.

Could your board benefit from an annual plan? Consider these questions:

• Do you already know the board’s major agenda items for the next several months?
• Is your board able to focus on the “big picture” and strategy?
• Does the board hold itself accountable for its fundraising and financial responsibilities?
• Do all your board committees know their charge for the year, and how the board expects them to report back?
• Is your board fulfilling all its duties in the bylaws?

If you have answered no to two or more questions, an annual plan could be a game changer for your board. Join the Institute for Conservation Leadership (ICL) and the North Carolina Conservation Network (NCCN) for the audio conference below to learn how.

Developing an Annual Action Plan for Your Board
A 60-minute audio conference
Nov. 8, 2010
1pm Eastern/ 12pm Central/ 11am Mountain/ 10am Pacific
Co-sponsored by ICL and the North Carolina Conservation Network

Register online by Nov. 5, 2010.

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