[NPFX Ep. 44] How to Make Your Next Board Meeting More Productive (with Nate Rhoton and Rick McCartney)
Welcome to The Nonprofit Fundraising Exchange, a podcast from IPM Advancement. Our mission is to empower nonprofits to succeed so they can make the world a better place.
Today’s topic: How to Make Your Next Board Meeting More Productive
When board meetings run too long and feel unproductive, board members get discouraged and the nonprofit suffers. Causes can range from ineffective leadership to poor planning to a general lack of organization and follow-through. In today's episode, our panel discusses specific suggestions to address these challenges and help make your next board meeting more productive, collaborative, and engaging.
Time-Stamped Episode Shortcuts:
- Introductions [1:21]
- Why productive board meetings matter [2:33]
- Preparation is the key to running a productive board meeting [4:08]
- How to make sure each board member is ready for the meeting [9:13]
- What goes into the consent agenda [11:19]
- Engaging board members by getting their feedback [14:01]
- Addressing fundraising responsibilities, especially resistance to fundraising [16:21]
- Allowing time for more generative conversations [21:26]
- Running meetings on time without stifling feedback or discussion [25:09]
- The value of good communication between the board and the nonprofit leadership [28:22]
Special Offer: Free 30-minute consultation for NPFX listeners
Additional Resources:
- [NPFX] Building and Engaging a High-Performing Board
- [NPFX] Diversity on Your Board Matters to Your Nonprofit's Mission
- IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library
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Guests
Nate Rhoton serves as the CEO for one-n-ten, an LGBTQ non-profit delivering youth services in Arizona. Following a career of fifteen years in corporate management and finance, Rhoton chose to serve the community with his nonprofit fundraising and development expertise. Serving for twelve years as the operations director and then CFO of a local construction company, he worked to expand corporate community involvement and non-discrimination protections to LGBTQ employees. Over the last decade, he has committed himself to nonprofit service, serving on the Arizona steering committee of the Human Rights Campaign, the board of the Greater Phoenix Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, The Melonhead Foundation, and as co-chair of the board of directors for Equality Arizona. Currently he serves as the chair of the Human Relations Commission for the City of Phoenix, vice chair of Leading for Change, and on the LGBTQ Advisory to the Chancellor of Maricopa County Community Colleges.
Rick McCartney, President and CEO of InMedia, a national tech-media company is no stranger to nonprofit board service. He serves as Chairman of the board at one-n-ten, an organization that takes LGBTQ youth off the streets. He serves as Vice Chair of the Thrive Services Group Board, an organization dedicated to eradicating poverty through impactful business dealings. He is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, past Chairman of the Board of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, and a member of the Kellenberger + Tollefson LGBTQ Center at the Arizona Community Foundation where he raises money to grant to LGBTQ groups demonstrating great change. He serves as an Advisory Board Director of the Phoenix Film Foundation. McCartney is past chairman of the Maricopa Workforce Connections Board where he worked to create job opportunities for both the disadvantaged and unemployed. His other work includes mentoring two youths through New Pathways for Youth and raising money for nonprofits nationally that work with children, education and youth at risk.
Hosts
Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in major gifts program management, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development.
Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics.