Board Development aims to forge meaningful board roles and practices at each stage in a nonprofit organization’s growth and development. Though a board’s specific roles, structure, and functioning generally change and evolve over time, its core responsibilities (advancing an organization’s mission, assuring its responsiveness to the communities it serves, and financial stewardship) hold true throughout. Strategies for Change helps organizational leaders and boards of directors of nonprofits fulfill these enduring purposes in a manner that honors the history, culture and particular circumstances of each group.

Strategies for Change uses a variety of methods—including interviews, focus groups and surveys—to engage board members in ascertaining the board’s needs. In turn, this assessment lays the groundwork for in-depth conversations and agreements about the board’s purpose, priorities and practices. Board retreats and/or special board meeting formats give the group the opportunity to delve into substantive issues without the time pressures and limitations of regular business meetings. Consultation in board development serves to renew board members’ commitment to the organization, stimulate their meaningful engagement in governance and enhance the quality of a board’s governance practices.

Read about how one board overcame a lack of clarity about roles and responsibilities and started to function as a governance board.

Read about “Strengthening Boards of Nonprofit Organizations.”