A nonprofit board that is collaborative is beneficial to your nonprofit, regardless of whether it is new struggling, or simply looking to make an impact. This type of partnership enables nonprofits to have a more powerful voice, by gaining more support for their mission, and also reaching new audiences. It also gives nonprofits the opportunity to work with experts in fields that they may not be well-versed in, allowing them to learn from experts in other fields and form greater interpersonal connections.
Begin by identifying the reasons the reason your company would like collaboration boards. This will help you decide what kinds of partnerships are appropriate and what the intended goals of your collaborations should be. It will also help you establish expectations and guidelines for the team. For instance, you might want to https://fireboardroom.com/building-a-collaborative-nonprofit-board-team/ create group agreements that establish clear standards for how the team must communicate and collaborate at board meetings. You can reinforce these rules by regularly checking in and recognizing successes, for instance when members of the team shows the behaviors that are agreed upon.
A collaborative board of trustees must also have a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of every trustee. This can be achieved through an intelligent recruitment process as well as through regular assessments of the board as in its entirety. You can then use these findings to help mentor new members or place them on committees where they can have the chance to succeed. It is also important to encourage the board members to participate in collaborative projects, to ensure that they are familiar with the project and feel at ease working with each other.