51. Seven roles your Board can play in developing your nonprofit’s strategic plan
Your Board of Directors is crucial to shaping your nonprofit’s future, especially when it comes to developing your next strategic plan. How they contribute depends on the type of board you have and your unique context.
A governance board keeps an eye on the big picture, ensuring your organization stays on course. They focus on guiding the overall direction rather than getting involved in daily tasks.
An operational board, on the other hand, is more hands-on. They dive into day-to-day work, playing a key role in creating and executing the strategic plan.
With this in mind, let us explore some key roles board members can play in developing your nonprofit’s strategic plan.
Overseer:
The Overseer monitors the entire strategic planning process, ensuring it stays on track and meets deadlines. This role is crucial for governance boards, where maintaining the integrity of the process is a priority. Members of the governance committee, strategic planning committee, or the board as a whole can perform this role.
Input Provider:
Board members contribute insights into the strategic plan’s design, reflecting on the current and future state of the organization and community, and offering recommendations. This role is valuable for both governance and operational boards, as members bring diverse perspectives that help shape the strategic direction.
Connector:
As Connectors, board members leverage their networks to bring in key stakeholders for input or co-designing the strategic plan. These stakeholders might include peer organizations, thought leaders, government, and community representatives. Additionally, Connectors can help secure resources and partnerships to support the plan’s implementation. This role is vital for both governance and operational boards, especially for members with strong external connections.
Co-Designer:
Board members in the Co-Designer role collaborate actively with the executive team and other stakeholders to develop the strategic plan. They provide input on the strategic direction and help incorporate it into the plan, ensuring it is comprehensive, inclusive, and aligned with the organization’s mission and goals. This role is beneficial for operational boards and can also be valuable for governance boards, although not all members need to take on this role.
Facilitator:
If a board member has experience in nonprofit strategic planning, they might assist in facilitating strategy sessions. Facilitators guide discussions, ensuring they are productive and inclusive. This role is helpful for all boards, as it keeps the planning process focused and effective.
Reviewer:
As Reviewers, board members critically assess the strategic plan, providing feedback to ensure it is holistic, realistic, and aligned with the organization’s mission. This role is especially crucial for governance boards that focus on oversight.
Approver:
Approvers give the final approval of the strategic plan, typically a responsibility of governance boards. They ensure the plan has been thoroughly vetted and is ready for implementation, serving as the final check before it moves forward.
To wrap up, keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and your board members can take on multiple roles throughout the process.
The roles your board members take on will depend on whether your board is governance or operational, as well as your nonprofit’s needs, the board’s composition, and any time or resource constraints.
For example, a board member might:
Serve as a Facilitator during planning sessions, guiding discussions, while also acting as an Overseer to keep the process on track.
Act as a Co-Designer, shaping the plan with the executive team, and later step into the Approver role once the strategic plan is finalized.
Be both an Input Provider, offering insights during the planning phase, and a Reviewer, evaluating the proposed strategic plan.
By taking a step back to understand your unique context, you can identify the best roles for your board and create a strategic planning process that fits your nonprofit perfectly.
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