Greater Governance
Free resources about building a stronger, healthier board
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Free resources about building a stronger, healthier board
A strong leader can transform a board from functional to exceptional. Over the last ten years, I've served in leadership on four boards and have both witnessed and worked with several dozen more. Here are three qualities, and real ways they show up in practice, that I've seen in the most effective Board Chairs.
Committees are the engine of the board. They’re where the real work gets done, where strategy moves forward, and where board members find meaningful ways to contribute. However, without a clear purpose, the right people, and structured process, committees stall out. They become “committees in name only”: meeting infrequently, lacking direction, duplicating staff work, and draining the energy of your board members.
Good governance isn’t glamorous—but it’s the foundation of every thriving nonprofit. In my years working with boards as both a consultant and as an interim executive director, I’ve seen how the right framework can transform struggling organizations into resilient, mission-driven powerhouses. Below I introduce four pillars of effective governance—Ethical, Excellent, Enduring, and Equitable—and why every board should intentionally build toward them.