High-performing boards don't just oversee the work. They shape the vision, strengthen the plan, and drive meaningful results. To do this consistently, boards need a clear framework for turning vision into action, aligning around shared priorities, and staying focused on meaningful results.

The Challenge of Creating a High Impact Board

60%

of an organization’s success is attributed to the CEO alone — most boards are enormously underperforming.

51%

of board chairs report having no specific training or preparation before taking on their role.

31%

of board members are not satisfied with their board’s ability to evaluate the organization’s performance.

49%

of nonprofit CEOs say they do not have the right board members to establish trust with the communities they serve.

The High Impact Boards Framework

Imagine the “Game-Changing Opportunity” (GCO) That Is Your CEO

High Impact Boards recognize that the nonprofit’s CEO is a game-changing opportunity (GCO!).

With this in mind, extraordinary boards not only make sure that they have the right CEO in place, but they also do everything in their power to bring out the very best in them.

Multiply Your Impact by Aiming Higher Than You Ever Thought Possible

Extraordinary boards understand that bold dreams and shared vision are the fuel of organizational progress.

Peter Senge said it best, “Vision paints the picture of what we want to create…and when that vision is shared, it becomes a force in people’s hearts, a force of impressive power…few, if any, forces in human affairs are as powerful a shared vision.”

High Impact Boards know this and go to great lengths to dream big!

Perfect the Plan That Propels Progress​​​

High Impact Boards not only dream big, but they deliver brilliantly. They do this by making sure that the nonprofit’s plan is as good as it can possibly be.

This means making sure that every plan:

• Reinforces the nonprofit’s vision,
• Articulates clear goals and measurable objectives,
• Assigns every important task to a specific individual,
• Properly funds each priority, and
• Regularly monitors and communicates progress.

Said differently, High Impact Boards understand that planning is the art of bringing the future into the present so that something can be done about it now!

Amplify Accountability with the Metrics That Matter​

High Impact Boards keep score—and they do this through the use of a dashboard/scorecard.

Think about it.

To operate an enormously complex piece of machinery (e.g., your car), you really only need to know four or five pieces of information: (1) whether or not the car is turned on, (2) how much gas you have in tank, (3) how fast you are traveling, and (4) whether are not there are any alarms or warnings present.

Despite having more than 100,000 parts, as long as you know these four simple things you can pretty much drive a car without incident.

It works the exactly the same with your nonprofit’s dashboard.

By monitoring the four or five most important metrics of your organization, your board can not only proceed confidently but they can have great fun in pooling their energies to move these needles.

Communicate Effectively and Courageously​​​

High Impact Boards communicate effectively and courageously.

For your board to be effective as possible, each and every person at the table needs to possess the ability (and willingness) to communicate courageously.

To do this, high impact boards go to great lengths to not only create psychological safety, but they also invest in training to make sure that every director has the understanding, skills and tools to interact with precision and care.

Take Care of the Organization by Delivering on the Details​​​

Last but not least, High Impact Boards deliver on the details.

This means making sure that all the administrative details (e.g., the annual. audit, filing of 990’s and other IRS forms, examining monthly financials,
reviewing insurance coverages, etc.) all get done the right way and on time.

But here’s what separates extraordinary boards from average ones.

Low to average-performing nonprofit boards spend about 80% of their time in this area. The extraordinary one’s only spend about 20% of their time here (and the rest on the five aforementioned priorities!).

Ready to See How Your Board is Performing?

The High Impact Boards Assessment gives you a clear starting point for evaluating your board's strengths, gaps, and opportunities for growth. In just a few minutes, you'll gain insight into how well your board is shaping vision, strengthening strategy, and driving meaningful results.
Take the Free Assessment
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