Overview

Ever feel like you're just spinning your wheels in the boardroom? That you aren't on the same page with other members of the board and senior staff? Do you sometimes wonder if you're really accomplishing the purpose for which the organization was created? If so, please realize this: You are not alone! The Intentional Board was written specifically with these frustrations in mind. It's written in a the conversational style common to all In the Trenches books published by CharityChannel Press. Intentional vs. Accidental Board Kent Stroman coined the term accidental board to describe the governance condition he has too-frequently encountered in his decades in the nonprofit field. It makes no difference how old or new. Large or small. Sophisticated or simple. Local or international. Boards tend to fall prey to the same reality that plagues every other entity: Left to their own devices, they will decay. And, unfortunately, most don't have to decline very far for the decay to become noticeable. Accidental boards result from the forces of human nature. A handful of well-intentioned individuals with a boatload of passion joins together to solve a specific problem. They form a nonprofit organization, and someone tells them they must have a board. No problem. Several of them know attorneys (maybe someone who practices family law) and ask for assistance. These kind and generous attorneys provide pro bono services--well beyond their area of expertise--to help get the organization started on the right foot. The formal structure for governing a charitable entity is born, and everyone goes happily about their respective business. But trouble is brewing. It's invisible. It's just below the surface. The governance capabilities of the board are not keeping up with the demands of the mission. The governance framework laid out in the bylaws is not aligned with the structure required of a charitable entity. And just like a Kansas tornado, the winds are shifting, and the shift goes unnoticed. Initially. Next thing we know Toto is flying. And, we're not in Kansas anymore! Yikes! Unless an intervention occurs, the result will be the formation of one more accidental board. A roomful of dedicated, generous, passionate members will gradually create a governance structure that does not work. If left untreated, this will eventually become a major distraction from the charitable programs and threaten the very existence of the organization. The intentional board, however, is the result of purposeful, deliberate action. In The Intentional Board, Stroman expertly weaves his powerful but easy-to-grasp 17 Laws of the Intentional Board to give you a framework for getting your board back on track. The intentional board is a journey--not a destination. It involves a collective striving for excellence. And it's a rewarding endeavor for all who are involved. No one who has served on an intentional board will ever be content returning to an accidental board. Rather, these enlightened board members will become change agents for transforming other organizations from survival to significance in their governance practices. Who Will Benefit? The Intentional Board is for anyone who wants a healthy, well-governed organization. It's indespensible for: Executive Directors Aspiring Executive Directors Board Chairs Board Members Prospective Board Members Governance Consultants Emerging Leaders Young Professionals Students of Nonprofit Leadership

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9781941050514

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Reviews

Eye-opening, perhaps jaw-dropping, for many nonprofit boards. His clear, no-nonsense writing style will help many boards step up their governance game. --Dan Busby, President, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Exceptionally well written with a practical and logical approach. --Philip G. Schumacher, ACFRE, CFRE, Schumacher Philanthropic Consultants LLC, Immediate Past Chair of CFRE International I couldn't stop reading Kent's book. --Rod MacIlvaine, DMin, Pastor, Author, Consultant, Professor, Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach It's a gold mine! At once thoughtful and practical ... a road map toward an intentional board. Don't miss out on Kent's wisdom! --Hans Helmerich, Chairman, Helmerich & Payne, Inc. When boards thrive, organizations thrive. It's that basic. It's that fundamental. Kent Stroman outlines the essentials in The Intentional Board. --David Alexander, EdD, President, Alexander Resource Strategies Whatever you are doing, stop and read The Intentional Board! --Lori L. Jacobwith, Founder, Ignited Fundraising Every nonprofit can easily elevate their board performance by following Kent's sage advice in The Intentional Board. --Sandy Rees, CFRE, Chief Encouragement Officer, Get Fully Funded If you want a better board and the success it brings, then give every board member a copy! --Jay B. Love, CEO and Board Chairman, Bloomerang If you work or volunteer for a nonprofit, stop what you're doing and read this book! Kent's 17 Laws of The Intentional Board will revolutionize your work. --Amy Eisenstein, ACFRE, Author, Major Gifts for Small Shops and 50 Asks in 50 Weeks Kent's brilliant advice reaches every dimension of board service. I want a copy for every one of my board members! --Pamela Witter, MBA, Author, Speaker, Consultant, Fundraising Executive You ask, 'Is there really a path for a board journey in today's world that does not include the usual ruts of aggravation, frustration, and ineffectiveness?' Yes! The answer is here! --David Wagner, Partner, CFO, Schnake Turnbo Frank The Intentional Board earns my strongest recommendation. If you want to create positive transformation within your board, get this book! --Gail Perry, MBA, CFRE, Philanthropy Expert, Nonprofit Evangelist, Speaker, Author This book should be required reading for anyone interested in joining a nonprofit board, recruiting board members, or accelerating the capacity of their organization. --Dan Beirute, JD, Nonprofit Attorney, Beirute Law PC The Intentional Board is masterful at clarifying how boards function--and how their members can bolster productivity. Most any board will benefit from Kent's step-by-step guidance and relatable storytelling. Those who follow his advice will almost surely see improved recruitment, retention, and effectiveness. They are also sure to have happier staff! --Susan Schaefer, CFRE, Principal, Resource Partners LLC and Coauthor, Nonprofit boards for the GENIUS

Author Information

Regarded as America's ASKing Coach, Kent Stroman is a published author, popular presenter, effective consultant, and insightful thought leader. His purpose in life is to Equip, Inspire, and Encourage. Kent has served on numerous boards and leads board retreats throughout the country. He is a partner in the prestigious Alliance for Board Effectiveness, which is committed to excellence in governance. Kent's observation of accidental boards over the years has led to his passion for intentionality in board service and governance. After a twenty-five-year career in higher education, Kent launched Stroman & Associates, consulting in fundraising, board governance, strategic planning, and leadership development. He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), BoardSource-trained governance consultant, Sarkeys Foundation-approved retreat facilitator, and serves as an adjunct consultant for the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits. Kent has earned the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Master Trainer designation. For many years, Kent honed his skills in the trenches as a fundraiser while developing a successful relationship-based model for engaging donors, which he writes about in Asking about Asking: Mastering the Art of Conversational Fundraising. Kent equips fundraising leaders internationally through speaking engagements, retreats, webinars, workshops, and his signature Asking Academy training program offered through The Institute for Conversational Fundraising. Stephen C. Nill, JD founded CharityChannel.com, an online professional community serving more than 100,000 nonprofit-sector professionals in North America and worldwide. He has served as its CEO since inception in 1992. Under Nill's leadership, CharityChannel has published more than 2,000 professional articles and more than eight-five books under its two imprints, CharityChannel Press and For the GENIUS Press. He has advised hundreds of nonprofit organizations as a California tax-exempt organization lawyer as well as international consultant. Nill has served as a chief development officer at a major Southern California university, the CEO of a large health care foundation, a senior vice-president of fund development of a U.S. west-coast nonprofit hospital chain, as a founder and acting director of development of a parochial school in his community, and as a founder of an organization dedicated to providing food and clothing for the homeless. Nill enjoys composing symphonic and choir music at wee hours of the morning in his studio. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Janet, and his golden retriever, Gypsy.

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