Athena Coaching & Consulting

Every nonprofit needs money. Unfortunately, that is where many organizations want to start – with fundraising. Jumping right into raising money is like building a house without a foundation. It might work for a while, but it’s not going to last. Where we help nonprofits start at Athena Coaching & Consulting, is in developing a solid foundation by curating a Board of Directors that is right for them. Through evaluation, education, and empowering your board, your organization will get to where you want (and the community needs) it to go. Not only that, developing your Board of Superheroes enables leaders to gain more time to focus on the important work of saving the world! #nonprofit #boardofdirectors #leadership #volunteers

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." William James. A strong and focused Board makes an undeniable difference in what your organization can achieve. A Board that’s not just present but actively driving strategy, amplifying your mission, and tackling challenges head-on? Think for a moment... ?? Does your Board have clear roles and shared goals? ??Are you tapping into their unique skills and passions? ??Do they feel engaged, empowered, and inspired to lead boldly? Just what could your nonprofit achieve with a team of superheroes supporting you?

"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." — Phil Jackson Keeping board members engaged is just as important as bringing them on board - Disengagement will only get in the way of you achieving your goals. Regular communication, opportunities for development, and meaningful tasks are essential to keeping board members motivated and invested in the organization's success. So, here are some ideas for how you can build stronger engagement: - Offer continuous learning opportunities: Provide training on governance best practices and offer workshops that address sector-specific challenges, such as rising concerns over climate-related risks or governance oversight. - Conduct annual evaluations: Evaluate both individual contributions and the collective performance of the Board of Directors. These evaluations can help identify gaps and provide opportunities for board members to refocus on areas that need attention. - Encourage open dialogue: Create a culture where board members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns. This open communication creates a sense of ownership and responsibility for the organization’s success. Additionally, be sure to recognize and celebrate the contributions of your board members. Acknowledging their impact not only strengthens their connection to the mission, but also fosters a positive board culture. How are you actively engaging your board members to strengthen their connection to your mission?

Sound Familiar? ? You have good, passionate people on your board, but they don't do anything. ? Your governance volunteers want to get involved in operations. ? You know you have to have a board, but you don't know what to do with them. ? You simply cannot find anyone who wants to volunteer for your Board of Directors. If you can relate to any of these statements, we should talk! Athena Coaching & Consulting helps nonprofits to develop a solid foundation by curating a Board of Directors that is right for them. Not only that, developing your Board of Superheroes enables leaders to gain more time to focus on the important work of saving the world! Contact me on LinkedIn to arrange a time to talk.

One of the biggest contributors to retaining board members is quality leadership. A healthy culture and mindful leadership makes people want to stay. Not only that, it attracts others who want to be part of a strong organization! Recruiting new board members is important, but retention is equal to this. To keep your board vibrant and engaged long-term, it’s important to continually refresh its composition and energy - there are a lot of nonprofits who echo this strategy, conducting periodic reviews of their board’s makeup. This ensures you're recruiting individuals with diverse skills and perspectives. Here are some ways to keep your board thriving: - Conduct periodic reviews: Regularly assess the board’s composition to identify areas where additional skills or new perspectives might be needed or helpful. - Encourage succession planning: Ensure that leadership positions on the board are regularly rotated, allowing for fresh ideas and preventing burnout. - Cultivate a culture of service: Make sure board members understand that their contributions are making a real difference. When people feel connected to the mission, they’re more likely to stay engaged and committed.

"If you don't know where you're going, you might not get there." It's so easy to get caught up in the daily demands of serving communities, managing programs, and chasing funding. But every organization needs to pause occasionally and ask: Are we heading where we want to go? This isn't about lengthy strategic planning sessions. It's about taking a moment to ensure your team's energy and resources are focused on creating real impact. Remember, being busy doesn't always mean being effective. Your beneficiaries deserve your most thoughtful, focused efforts. When was your last strategic pause?

?? Disengagement across a Board will only get in the way of you achieving your goals. Keeping Board members engaged is just as important as bringing them on board in the first place. ? Regular communication ? Opportunities for development ? Meaningful tasks These are essential to keeping board members motivated and invested in your organization's success. Here are some ideas for how you can build stronger engagement: 1. Offer continuous learning opportunities: Provide training on governance best practices and offer workshops that address sector-specific challenges, such as rising concerns over climate-related risks or governance oversight. 2. Conduct annual evaluations: Evaluate both individual contributions and the collective performance of the Board of Directors. These evaluations can help identify gaps and provide opportunities for board members to refocus on areas that need attention. 3. Encourage open dialogue: Foster a culture where board members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns. This open communication creates a sense of ownership and responsibility for the organization’s success. 4. Recognize and celebrate the contributions of your Board members: Acknowledging their impact not only strengthens their connection to the mission, but also fosters a positive Board culture. How are you keeping your nonprofit Board members engaged? What else would you add here? #nonprofit #nonprofitboard

"Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge." — Simon Sinek Nonprofit boards are essential to the success of any organization, yet leaders often tell me that they find themselves frustrated when board members don’t seem as engaged or proactive as they’d like (or need). If you’ve ever felt like your board isn’t living up to its potential, you’re not alone. Many nonprofit leaders struggle with the same issue. However, the key to transforming a disengaged board into an active force for good may lie in one simple yet often overlooked factor: expectations. #nonprofit #boardofdirectors

Are the expectations you have of your Board volunteers the same expectations they have of themselves? My clients often come to me frustrated because their governance volunteers are not doing what they want them to. Often, it becomes clear that the reason may very well be that clear expectations have never been set. What the organization needs from its Board of Directors has not been outlined and without guidance, volunteers either go off on their own course, or do little to nothing. Thinking through what is needed and detailing expectations is often the first step I take when working with an organization on Board alignment. Most people wouldn't take a paid job without understanding what is expected, and we shouldn't do that to volunteers either. There are seven areas I recommend nonprofit leaders consider when setting expectations with their volunteers. You can download my full Board Expectations guide through the link in the comments.

Strategic planning is what connects your mission to your day-to-day activities. It provides the stucture to engage your Board of Directors in their role of advancing your organization. Taking the time to step away from the operations and work “on” your business is a practice that agencies of any age and size will benefit from. Reach out to me to discuss how I can help you create your own board of Superheroes. #nonprofit #boarddevelopment #strategy