Changing the Culture of a Nonprofit Board of Directors

For those who work in nonprofit organizations, there can be no arguing about the importance of a functional board of directors. As the ultimate fiscal and guidance responsibility lies with the board of directors, it is key that the board be resourceful, helpful, and take care of tasks that are necessary to the organization and function of the agency. Unfortunately, sometimes a board of directors can become outdated or a mismatch to the needs of the organization overall, or "bad habits" can set in that keep the board from being efficient and relevant. What can be done to change the "culture" of a poorly functioning board of directors?

Let's imagine that a board of well-meaning individuals has become less-than-helpful due to attendance and participation problems: board members miss meetings or come late, refuse to complete tasks or attend important events, and do not fulfill the basic duties they have agreed to do. This can be devastating for staff morale and influence the daily operations of the organization in various ways. In order to change that culture, it is going to take concerted effort. A strong board chair or president can set the tone for the expectations of board members' performance. Find a way to change chairs and bring in someone who stresses punctuality and performance. This may mean finding a way to nudge an ineffective chair out of his or her position.

Additionally, bringing on new board members with strong work ethic and setting clear expectations for performance can help to shift the board culture. This means basically creating an environment where the "slacking" members (or whatever board culture problem that may exist) become out-numbered and new members shift the expectations. This usually results in established members either changing to fit the new culture or resigning to make room for the new direction.

Of course, many nonprofits are reluctant to promote any sort of shift out of fear of losing supporters and donors. It is possible to add new members and shift the board culture with care in order to preserve relationships with supporters. Consider a board retreat to establish new policy around board performance. This way, the expectations will be reiterated in writing and whether or not every board member is in total agreement as far as their actions, each one will know that the expectations are changing.