How To Host the Best Board Retreat Ever! Checklist – 17 Keys to Success
Release Date: 10/09/2023
When Nonprofit Boards Meddle: The Dangers of Micromanagement
The Nonprofit Mentor -- Tips, Tools & Tactics from the Trenches for Nonprofit Leaders -- by Tom Iselin
If you're tired of your board meddling in the daily operations of your nonprofit . . . this podcast is for you!
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Boardroom Ghosting: How Ignoring Staff Emails Drains Nonprofit Momentum
The Nonprofit Mentor -- Tips, Tools & Tactics from the Trenches for Nonprofit Leaders -- by Tom Iselin
Nonprofit boards play a critical role in guiding the organizations they serve, helping steer decisions, ensuring fiscal health, and offering strategic oversight. However, one glaring issue that’s often swept under the rug is the lack of prompt responses to communications from executive directors and staff. Emails and important requests from staff frequently go unanswered or receive delayed responses from board members. This behavior, while common, is not only disrespectful but also sends a clear and damaging message to the very people who keep the organization running day in and day out. ...
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Avoid Last-Minute Blues: Tips for Planning Ahead for Strategic Planning
The Nonprofit Mentor -- Tips, Tools & Tactics from the Trenches for Nonprofit Leaders -- by Tom Iselin
Plan Early for a Stress-Free, High-Impact Session Planning a strategic session for your nonprofit can be one of the most impactful moments of the year—a chance to reset, strategize, and inspire your team. But let’s be honest: waiting until the last minute to plan such an important event can lead to unnecessary stress, limited options, and a lackluster experience. On the flip side, planning early opens doors to creativity, thoughtful preparation, and the opportunity to create a transformative experience for everyone involved. This podcast explores explore why planning early is not...
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How to Host the Best Board Development Retreat Ever! Winning Checklist – 17 Keys to Success
The Nonprofit Mentor -- Tips, Tools & Tactics from the Trenches for Nonprofit Leaders -- by Tom Iselin
Have you ever sat through a board retreat and thought, “What a waste of time!” You’re squished in a windowless room, squirming in a chair that feels like granite, and longing for the next break. Worse yet, the facilitator is boring, the content is useless, board members are texting, and the food is stale! If you’re in the process of planning a retreat, don’t settle! It’s possible to put together an amazing day that’s engaging, meaningful, memorable, and fun. All it takes is a little planning and ingenuity. Listen in to the following checklist to make sure you have all the...
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From Coffee to Commitment: Mastering Donor Meetings with Preparation
The Nonprofit Mentor -- Tips, Tools & Tactics from the Trenches for Nonprofit Leaders -- by Tom Iselin
In the world of nonprofit fundraising, meeting with a donor for coffee (or any in-person meeting), whether they are a potential supporter or a current contributor, is one of the most crucial interactions you’ll have. This isn’t just a casual coffee chat; it’s a pivotal meeting that can define a donor’s impression of you, your organization, and may determine whether they make moderate gift, a significant one, or none at all. The stakes are high and coming prepared can greatly increase the likelihood you’ll leave with a smile and the outcome you desired. To learn more about how to...
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Strategic Planning: What’s Better, A One-Year or Five-Year Plan?
The Nonprofit Mentor -- Tips, Tools & Tactics from the Trenches for Nonprofit Leaders -- by Tom Iselin
In today's rapidly changing world, clinging to the traditional five-year strategic plan is not just outdated—it's impractical. Organizations need to adapt quickly to survive, and a long-term plan often becomes a liability and burden rather than a guide and roadmap. Instead, a one-year strategic plan, monitored monthly and updated annually, proves to be a far more effective and cost-efficient approach to planning. To learn more, listen in!
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Tactics for Building a "Value Network" for your Nonprofit
The Nonprofit Mentor -- Tips, Tools & Tactics from the Trenches for Nonprofit Leaders -- by Tom Iselin
Tactics for Building a "Value Network" for your Nonprofit The nonprofit world is a quirky one. Many nonprofits are founded by passionate people with little or no nonprofit experience. Many board members have little or no nonprofit experience, and many staff members have little or no nonprofit or business experience. The result is often a lot of wasted time and effort. Mistakes are made, resources are poorly allocated, and problems are ignored. People get involved and things get done, but no one is sure what should be done, how it should be done, or who should be responsible to do what....
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7 Tips to Hiring "The Best Strategic Planning Facilitator Near Me."
The Nonprofit Mentor -- Tips, Tools & Tactics from the Trenches for Nonprofit Leaders -- by Tom Iselin
Here's a list of 7 uncommon factors to look for! Strategic planning is the backbone of any successful nonprofit organization, providing a roadmap for future growth and impact. However, navigating the strategic planning process can be challenging, requiring skilled guidance to ensure clarity, collaboration, and actionable outcomes. When seeking to hire the best strategic planning facilitator for your nonprofit, there are several key factors to consider. Here are seven essential (but uncommon) considerations for CEOs and Board Chairs to keep in mind when searching “Near Me” for the...
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Disengaged Board Members? – Tolerate it NO More! 8 Steps to Engagement and a “Get it Done!” Culture. Here’s how . . .
The Nonprofit Mentor -- Tips, Tools & Tactics from the Trenches for Nonprofit Leaders -- by Tom Iselin
Let’s be honest Do you have board members that . . . Blow off meetings? Don’t read meeting materials? Don’t make a personal donation? Are nowhere to be found to help organize events? Can’t recite the mission or vision? Don’t help steward donors? Rarely see your programming? Don’t personally know the staff? Say they’re “just volunteers” or “too busy” to participate? Couldn’t share any institutional knowledge to save their life? Believe that the ED and staff are getting paid so they should do all the work? Well, if we had the courage, here’s what we’d like to say...
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10 Tips to Avoid Hiring a Dud Strategic Planning Facilitator
The Nonprofit Mentor -- Tips, Tools & Tactics from the Trenches for Nonprofit Leaders -- by Tom Iselin
Hosting a strategic planning session can be costly and time-consuming. You can spend hours and hours trying to find a suitable venue, hire caterers, organize pre-work, and wrangle all the attendees. But often times, the biggest cost is the one you spend on hiring the facilitator. Then, the big day arrives. Everyone is prepared and excited to roll up their sleeves, grapple with pressing issues, and create a roadmap for the future. They have high expectations the day will be a huge success and that the facilitator will be outstanding. But when the day turns out to be a huge belly flop...
info_outlineHave you ever sat through a board retreat and thought, “What a waste of time!” You’re squished in a windowless room, squirming in a chair that feels like granite, and longing for the next break. Worse yet, the facilitator is boring, the content is useless, board members are texting, and the food is stale!
If you’re in the process of planning a retreat, don’t settle! It’s possible to put together an amazing day that’s engaging, meaningful, memorable, and fun. All it takes is a little planning and ingenuity.
Listen in and use the following checklist to make sure you have all the essential elements in place to ensure the retreat is a resounding success.