Board Café

The Electronic Newsletter Exclusively for Members of Nonprofit Boards of Directors

Short enough to read over a cup of coffee, the Board Café offers a menu of ideas, information, opinion, news, and resources to help board members give and get the most out of board service. Thank you to the James Irvine Foundation and others for making the Board Café free to its 4,300 and growing subscribers. Executive Chef / Editor: Jan Masaoka. May 11, 1999. Vol. 3, No. 5

Are you one of the readers who responded to the Board Café's request last year for information about boards of all-volunteer organizations? If you did (or even if you didn't) you'll be glad to know that Board Café readers helped us write a new handbook for board members on these great community organizations. See the first item for more info . . . also items on electronic volunteer recruitment, a 360 degree assessment of the board, and some easy ways to raise money . . . Jan Masaoka

NEW GUIDE FOR ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS

If you're an officer or leader of an all-volunteer organization, you know the special qualities that make such organizations both frustrating and compelling. Our new handbook for soccer leagues, PTAs, daffodil societies, neighborhood associations, self-help groups and others is All Hands On Board: the Board of Directors in an All-Volunteer Organization, co-published by CompassPoint and the National Center for Nonprofit Boards. Cost for one copy is $12 plus $4.00 shipping and handling; 8.5% ($1.02) sales tax is required for CA residents only. See the end of this issue for ordering information.

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH: FAST, COOL WAY TO GET VOLUNTEERS

Does your organization need more people to teach kids to read, clean up wilderness areas, serve meals to the elderly, or answer the phones at a medical clinic? Post (for free!) your volunteer job openings at http://www.impactonline.org and you'll join 4,000 other nonprofits getting 150 volunteer referrals EVERY DAY through Yahoo, America OnLine, and other "portals." Impact Online folks say they're now matching board members with organizations, too!

THE FIRST AMERICAN NONPROFIT WAS . . .

. . . actually the first corporation in the United States of any kind. In 1650, Harvard College was incorporated with a charter that, for the first time, created the first non-church corporate entity distinct from the state. Harvard College was actually established earlier, in 1636, under the authority of a governing board of 12 overseers, including 6 public officials and six clergy. The 1650 creation of the corporation was a victory for the lay leaders of Harvard and for its independence. If you're interested in this kind of history, consider ordering the 23-page booklet A History of Nonprofit Boards in the United States by Peter Dobkin Hall; available from National Center for Nonprofit Boards: $12 members, $16 non-members; http://www.ncnb.org; 1-800-883-6262.

HOW ABOUT A 360 DEGREE EVALUATION OF THE BOARD?

Among the dozens of letters we received in response to last month's Board Café article on a 360 degree evaluation of an organization, three people raised the question: "Why not do a 360 degree evaluation of the BOARD?" Great idea! Some boards do annual SELF assessments of how the board is running, but a more complete view would be obtained by circulating an anonymous survey to staff, funders, volunteers, and others with whom the board comes in contact. The board could consider 180 degrees of input from "below"-the staff and the executive director, and 180 degrees of input from "above"-the community. Questions might include: "How well do you think the board is fulfilling its responsibilities in financial oversight?" "On a scale of one to ten, with 10 representing total micro-management and 1 representing a board that's not paying any attention, where would you place this board?"

This Issue's "Main Course at the Board Café":

Five Things One Board Member Can Do to Raise $100 to $5,000

Most board members feel that they "ought" to be raising money, or more money. It's frustrating to be one board member who wants the board to do more to raise money, when others on the board are reluctant or even antagonistic about the idea. The board as a whole needs to ensure that there is an overall plan for raising or earning the money the organization needs to do its work. This "Main Course at the Board Café" looks NOT at what the board should or can do (that's for another issue), but suggests what each of us, as just ONE board member, can do as an individual.

1. Make a personal contribution. Hand write a short note to the board president explaining why you are making the

2. Host a dessert party in your home or business and invite twenty friends and relatives. On the invitation say that they

   will learn about the organization, be asked but not pressured to make a contribution, and enjoy a great dessert. Hold the party on a weeknight around 7 pm. The day before the party, call everyone again and urge them to attend. Invite three or four other board members so they can learn how to do this themselves. Make or buy finger desserts, such as cookies or eclairs (cakes don't lend themselves to parties). Bake some cupcakes but do not serve them. At the party, have one client speak for three minutes about what the organization has meant to him or her. Next, have one staff person speak for another two minutes. Then YOU explain to the group why you serve on the board and think the organization is important. Ask the group if there are any questions, and encourage your guests to make a contribution, if they feel the cause is worthwhile, before leaving the party. As a bonus, offer them two cupcakes to take home if they make a contribution before leaving: this gives them a "reason" to write the check tonight.

3. Write a letter and send it to ten friends and relatives. In the letter, explain why you volunteer your time at the agency.

   Ask them to consider making a contribution to the organization, and let them know they can send the check to you or directly to the organization. (If you send out a holiday letter, you can include this in your letter.) Give your list of names to the staff and ask them to notify you immediately if they receive any contributions.

4. Volunteer to match the contributions from other board members. Tell the board that you will match, dollar-for-dollar, every contribution from a board member before December 31, up to a specified total. The catch: You will only do it if each and every board member makes a contribution. Alternatively, have a staff member tell the board that an anonymous board member has made this offer.
5. Together with two or three other board members, pledge significant gifts. Then write a letter to the rest of the board

Ordering Information for "All Hands on Board: The Board of Directors in an All-Volunteer Organization" Cost for one copy is $12.00 + $4.00 shipping & handling; for CA residents only, 8.5% sales tax is required (tax for one copy = $1.02) payable to: CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, 706 Mission Street 5^th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103. We accept cash, check, VISA, MC & AMEX (please include card number, exp. date, & card holder name.) You can order via mail; fax: 415-541-7708; e-mail: boardcafe@compasspoint.org ; & web: http://www.compasspoint.org/publications/pubinfo.html. Ordering multiple copies? Buy 2-9 copies and receive 10% discount, or buy 10 or more copies and receive 20% discount. Shipping & handling = $4.00 for orders under $40. For orders over $40, shipping = 10% of subtotal.

You are reading the BOARD CAFÉ, published monthly by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services. The BOARD CAFÉ is one component of Board Match Plus+, CompassPoint's venture with the Volunteer Center of San Francisco to strengthen the ability of individuals to serve on nonprofit boards. Board Match Plus+/CompassPoint: 706 Mission Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103; (phone) 415-541-9000; (fax) 415-541-7708; Silicon Valley office: 1922 The Alameda, San Jose, 95126; (phone) 408-248-9505. (e-mail) boardcafe@compasspoint.org (website) http://www.compasspoint.org/index.html . We welcome your comments and contributions to the BOARD CAFÉ.

If you would like your own free fax subscription to the BOARD CAFÉ, contact CompassPoint Nonprofit Services at any of the numbers listed above. If you would like to have the BOARD CAFÉ delivered to you free via electronic mail, send an e-mail message to info@compasspoint.org and in the body of the message type SUBSCRIBE BOARD CAFE. To unsubscribe to the BOARD CAFÉ, type UNSUBSCRIBE BOARD CAFE in the body of the message, or fax your request to 415-541-7708. The Board Café's e-mail/fax mailing list is not rented, exchanged, or given to any other entity.

© 1999 CompassPoint Nonprofit Services

Contact Information