Purpose driven board leadership could radically strengthen the entire social sector. BoardSource, the recognized leader in nonprofit board research, leadership, and support, is changing the way board directors and trustees see their relationship with the organizations and the people they serve. For boards to bring relevance, accountability, and integrity to their role, they must bring knowledge and insight about what the organization does and the community they serve. Research tells us that today’s Boards are:
- Disconnected from the communities they serve.
- Ill-informed about the ecosystem in which they operate.
- Lacking in racial and ethnic diversity (78%+ are predominantly white).
- Preoccupied with fundraising above and beyond all else. (Guess what? It’s not all about fundraising).
In 2021, Ann Wallstead, CEO of BoardSource, published an article in the Stanford Social Innovation Report outlining a new mindset for Board leadership called Four Principles of Purpose-Driven Board Leadership. Wallstead acknowledges a serious breakdown in how boards understand their role, the way they approaches their work, and the critical requirement to change composition and practices.
The Four Principles of Purpose Driven Board Leadership
Principle 1: Purpose Before Organization
The prioritization of an organization’s purpose, and the problems it is trying to solve, versus the organization itself.
Principle 2: Respect for Ecosystem
An acknowledgment that an organization’s actions can positively or negatively impact its surrounding ecosystem, and a commitment to making choices that benefit, not just our organizations, but the entire ecosystem, and all its players.
Principle 3: Equity Mindset
A commitment to advancing equitable outcomes and interrogating and avoiding the ways in which the organization’s strategies and work may reinforce systemic inequities, and the willingness to dismantle any barriers that may have been created by organizational decisions in the past.
Principle 4: Authorized Voice and Power
The recognition that organizational power and voice must be informed and authorized by those impacted by the organization’s work.
Those of us who coach and train nonprofit boards of directors know that if the board and its members are not clear on their roles and responsibilities, they cannot effectively govern the organization. Seeing the purpose of the organization first rather than the organization itself reframes the “duty of loyalty” from viewing itself as the “center of gravity” to a focus on the organization’s purpose in the world. Purpose is a blend of the organization’s mission and values. If they are not centered on purpose, they have no compass or “north star” by which to chart the path forward. Boards must be strategic bodies. Seeking the best desired social outcome is where boards must place priority. Without a roadmap, this is nearly impossible.
Understanding the ecosystem, the community the organization serves, is critical. Boards know that active community relationships can enhance not only recruiting but also fund development and partnerships. Knowing who the key players are in the ecosystem and building relationships with those who have real life experience is essential to the board’s ability to formulate strategies anchored in the strengths, needs, and cultures of their community.
Strong representation from those communities is equally as important. Inclusive leadership on both staff and the board will offer perspectives predominantly white staff and boards cannot. Long-term, this intentionality creates trust and connection in the community as a whole, and authorizes voice and power to those impacted by the work of the organization.
Imagine a world where boards see beyond the organizations they serve, to the greater ecosystem and broader impact. There they find a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges in their communities, creating an up-swell of interconnectivity, concern, and partnership for the greater good. It is clear the zero-sum game of scarcity no longer works and building networks of community-based partnerships is the clearest path forward to greater social impact.
The Four Principles of Purpose-Driven Board Leadership is a great starting point.
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Resources:
BoardSource
Re-Imagining Boards for Higher Impact, by Jane Wei-Skillern, PhD and Marty Kooistra
Four Principles of Purpose-Driven Board Leadership, by Ann Wallstead
Great information!