Article at a glance:
If you believe that your nonprofit board doesn't have a clear mission, you're not alone: fewer than half of the nonprofit directors McKinsey surveyed thought that their fellow directors could both summarize the mission of the organizations they serve and present an accurate vision of where those organizations are headed. Clarity and unity have never been more essential on boards, since they no longer just raise funds and hire CEOs; they're also being called on to manage performance and shape strategy. How can a collection of part-time volunteers come together and make organizations more efficient?
The take-away
It's time for nonprofit boards to scrutinize their composition and strengths. Once boards know their capabilities, they may find it more effective to concentrate on one task at a time rather than scatter their efforts too widely.