Is your Board Sustainable?

Over the past two weeks, I’ve spoken to several NPO leaders and during each conversation, the topic of sustainability came up. By “sustainability” I don't mean earth-friendly, “green” practices. The sustainability I am referring to is about an organization's ability to remain viabile and relevant over time. Organizational sustainability is a huge topic, so for this post, I will just focus on board sustainability.

While an organization’s mission doesn’t change over time, the function of the organization does. As an organization grows, its board of directors needs to diversify and change in order to meet the organization’s expanding needs. An effective board reflects the current organization, yet is also structured to support the organization’s future goals.

NPOs can usually trace their beginning to a small group of likeminded individuals who came together with the purpose of achieving a specific mission. Many times, founding boards consist of spouses, family members, or friends – people who are directly connected to the mission and are passionate about seeing it achieved. For some, this may be the first time they’ve served on a board or worked in the nonprofit sector. Founding boards are usually small and board members are charged with the responsibility of carrying out the day-to-day operations of the organization.

As an organization moves from its grassroots structure to a more professional composition, the board’s make-up must change to reflect the organization’s growth. It isn’t enough to only have board members with a direct connection to the mission. A healthy board needs to include members with differing viewpoints, diverse expertise, and varied experience. In addition, board members should be able to help the organization develop a broad network of prospective donors and community partners. As staff members are hired to manage the organization, the board’s focus needs to shift from carrying out the day-to-day activities to providing governance and oversight.

Remember, sustainability doesn’t mean preserving the current state throughout time. A sustainable board is one that changes over time to ensure an organization’s longevity and viability in the future. At any point in time, a board should simultaneously reflect the organizations past, present and desired future state.

Your board can be sustainable at any phase of its existence, as long as it remains open to change.

So , is your board structured to endure?