A collaborative board of nonprofits can be beneficial for your nonprofit, whether it’s a new organization struggling or looking to make a difference. This kind of collaboration helps nonprofits gain a more powerful voice by adding strength in numbers to their mission, and also expanding their reach to new publics. It also gives nonprofits a opportunity to work with experts in areas they may not be experts in and allows them to learn from experts in other fields and establish stronger interpersonal connections.
Start by identifying for your company to establish an organizational board that is collaborative. This will help you determine the kinds of partnerships that are suitable, and what your desired goals for collaborations should be. This will help to establish expectations and guidelines for the team. For instance, you could, create group agreements to define clear guidelines on how the team communicates and collaborates during board meetings. You can then reinforce these rules with frequent check-ins and celebrate successes, such as when a team member exhibits the agreed upon behaviors.
A collaborative board of trustees must also have a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each trustee. This can be accomplished through a thoughtful selection process and regular evaluations of the entire board. Then, you can utilize these results to guide new members or put them on committees in which they will have a chance to flourish. In addition, you should encourage the entire board to play part in collaborative projects so they are comfortable with the process and feel comfortable with working together.