Tips From The Trenches

• Date: 01 March 2018
• Published date: 01 March 2018
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/ban.30639

March 2018 • Volume 34, Number 7 7

DOI 10.1002/ban© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company • All rights reserved

Tips From The Trenches

Get to know board members ‘deeper’

The CEO builds trust with board members by

getting to know every single one of them at a deep

level. Here are some tips for doing so:

• Schedule a one-on-one meeting with each

board member. It could be for breakfast, lunch,

dinner or over coffee—it should be their choice.

Meet with each board member like this once a

year. Consider this “get-to-know-you-better time.”

• Communicate, but not too much. Commu-

nicating regularly with your board members is

also key to maintaining their trust.

The key is to not “overcommunicate.” Not all

board members want or need long memos from

you. In fact, most won’t read them.

Try to communicate three to five big news items

to your board members each week.

• Find a “board champion” to help you com-

municate some information to the board. This

should be a board member you “click with.” Certain

messages to the board have to come from a board

member, a peer, not their executive director. ■

Financial strategies build board trust

The following reports and methods can keep

board members current on the organization’s fi-

nancial situation.

• Monthly administrator’s report at board meeting.

• Monthly financial statement.

• Monthly written administrator’s updates/re-

ports for the board.

• Board retreats/study sessions, twice a year.

• Yearly budget study session.

• Annual audit report. ■

Three tips for board members

in dealing with media

Your organization wants favorable news cover-

age. The last way to get it is to send tongue-tied

board members to face a TV camera. To make sure

board members are prepared, try these strategies:

1. Always use an outline, not a prepared

speech. This way, the board member will sound

natural and not stilted during any interview.

2. Practice, practice, practice! Suggest that

board members role-play a media encounter. Re-

mind them to be enthusiastic about their support

of the organization.

3. Let them talk to the media every chance

they get. Don’t let board members pass up the op-

portunity to be on TV, in print or on the radio to dis-

cuss your organization. Don’t overlook the motiva-

tional aspect of this either. Board members deserve

recognition for all they do for the organization. ■

Board members can market

the organization

To bring your message to the widest possible au-

dience, suggest these two strategies to your board:

1. Have them distribute your organization’s

newsletter at their workplace. Most employers

willingly cooperate in doing this for their civic-

minded employees. It’s a good way to get a public

relations boost without spending much money.

2. Collaborate with like-minded organiza-

tions with an eye toward potential trade-offs.

Report substantial variances

with a narrative

At some point, executive directors will need to re-

port a variance from budget to their board members.

Spreadsheets full of black-and-white numbers

aren’t very reassuring—and don’t tell the whole

story. How you report that variance can be key

to keeping board members calm and confident in

your fiscal management.

Give your board a solid narrative explanation for

discrepancies:

1. For a positive variance—because individual

contributions rose: “Individual contributions are

over budget because of an annual endowment

pledge received during our annual fundraiser.”

2. For a negative variance—equipment expen-

ditures are up: “Equipment rental/purchases are

over budget because we are purchasing equipment

from grant funds. We received a grant that we did

not budget for.” ■

This is a golden opportunity for everyone to ex-

change resources—and a terrific way to educate

others about your organization. For example, if the

organization’s mission is youth-focused, the board

could suggest something such as sponsoring a

youth baseball team. ■