In the last High Impact Boards eNewsletter, we laid out the first three steps to help your charity raise $150K on Giving Hearts Day. And now that Giving Hearts Day is officially 112 days away, it’s time to unveil the final two steps. Buckle up — steps 4 and 5…
Giving Hearts Day–February 12th, 2026, is officially 126 days away! We’ve developed a five-step blueprint that you, your staff, and your board can follow to make the most of this year’s Giving Hearts Day (and we will zero-in on steps 1-2 this time, and 4-5 next time.) Let’s dive in.
A lesson about planning and why it matters. In 1911, two of the most revered polar explorers, Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen, engaged in an epic battle of wills and skills to be the first to reach the South Pole. These two renowned explorers were polar opposites.
Bowling (yes, bowling) is one of the most widely-played sports in America. In fact, 67 million Americans do it regularly. What is it about bowling that makes it so attractive for so many people? Is it the shoes? Is it the camaraderie? Is it the stylishly-retro, short-sleeved shirts?
Two simple words: Thank You.
It costs you nothing to say them.
And when you do, these two words have the power to set hearts ablaze.
They have the power to build bridges. They have the power to ignite life-changing energy. They have the power to create things that last.
Yet, without them, it…
This Just In. Researchers have now discovered that ending your board meeting on a positive note significantly improves your directors’ overall memory and perception of the experience—even if it didn’t go particularly well. When it comes to your board meetings, LAST impressions matter most.
Words Matter. If you want to achieve extraordinary impact as a nonprofit board member, it comes down to eight words. Eight. When taken together, these eight words are so powerful that they’ve fed the hungry, housed the homeless, and healed the sick. They’ve given us better and brighter tomorrows.
It’s a fact.
As a board member, you bring a lot to the table.
Your experience, your reputation in the community, and your ability to connect with others all create a unique opportunity for you to be an important part of group that takes an organization from good to great….
If you want to achieve extraordinary impact, your board needs to be fully-engaged. This is a no-brainer. Indeed, when your board is fully-committed and actively involved in your nonprofit’s mission, great things are going to happen. Your directors have to be all-in.
This just in. Despite the best of intentions, most nonprofit boards fail to live up to their potential. Alarmingly, a recent study conducted by McKinsey & Company uncovered that only 17% of nonprofit CEOs feel that their boards are as effective as they can be. Seventeen percent. Ouch….
Serving on a board is a privilege. As board members, we’re carefully selected because we have a particular set of skills that an organization believes can serve as a multiplier in pursuit of their mission. That organization expects you to show up prepared, enthusiastic, and fully focused.
If you’ve served on a board post-pandemic, you’ve maybe experienced some version of the following:
It’s 6:05. The meeting was supposed to start at 6, but only three of your board members have showed up.
Not to worry: There’s a virtual option, and four people are on Zoom in the waiting room….
