Leading Effective Nonprofit Board Meetings! 7 Tips

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Need some help? My Nonprofit FOUNDER TO FULL-TIME ACADEMY is now open!! foundertofulltime.com/ Also! Join my newsletter to receive updates and resources for changemakers and nonprofit leaders: tinyurl.com/nonprofitsandchangemakers

[@corpusperez9117]

As I've just been elected as a non-profit board president, these are extremely value tips that I will incorporate as I kick off board meeting to make sure everyone attending it feels like it was valuable time and energy spent.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Excellent!! Congrats on your new role!

[@planetedeschefs]

Thank you very much for your advice. I've been founder and owner of a non profit for about 5 years now. I just discovered your channel and I like the content. Very good advices and recommendations. Thank you for the good work.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Yay! Great to have you here on the channel!

[@terrancebacchus2824]

Amber, this video is just what I needed. Hosting our first board meeting in March and you provided great insights. We will have an inspiring meeting. Thank you!

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Yay! Congrats on your first board meeting and good luck!

[@marymaina5837]

Thanks Soo much for this ,it's timely for me since I will be holding first Board meeting for the start up non -profit

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

You're welcome Mary! Good luck with your first meeting!

[@layasaul28]

Amber, I guess you could put me in the "raving fan" category!! Another great video, thank you. We also try to start with something inspiring (an inspirational teaching, often biblically related which is relevant to our community and region). I love the idea of our own mission being the inspiration. One thing I would add as tip number eight is to thank those who took the time to show up; I like to share my love for my fantastic board that shows up to support this dream.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

I definitely like that for another tip! Thanks Laya!

[@susanfreeman5340]

Yes volunteering time makes them rock stars

[@simplyscraphappy1072]

Just tapping on here to say thank you for the great content and thank you also for leaving that little blooper at the end. I thought that was phenomenal!

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Thank you so much! :)

[@rip9551]

Great video! I am looking to start a non-profit organization pushing to help pay for therapy for people. Mental health is a progressing problem that is getting worse with time and I almost died due to mental illness and saving lives would be a dream. So far I have no idea where to start😂 But everyone has to start somewhere. Thank you for this content

[@susanfreeman5340]

Out of the blue last year my daughter went into psychosis. Being isolated at home 24/7 wasn't healthy for her. She's never had any issues ever before COVID-19. She had to be hospitalized a couple of weeks. Now she's home with me and doing well.. I'm attempting to learn about noon profits to help people like my daughter and others.. We definitely need more awareness..

[@rip9551]

@@susanfreeman5340 I am sorry to hear about that. I hope she is doing well. I have bipolar 1 and my last episode also had psychosis which led to auditory and visual hallucinations and leading me to almost losing my life multiple times. This stuff is no joke and after getting out of the hospitalization, I pledged to do something to try put even the slightest dent in mental health. I 100% agree that isolation is not good at all for anyone. If I were you, I'd also look into an out patient program to send her 3-5 days a week if possible for a month or 2. Helps socialization and coping skills. Sending my blessings your way

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

You are very welcome! Great cause!

[@AbdelhamidG.Moursy]

Another awesome video, Amber. Short and to the point.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Glad you liked it!

[@junipersue]

I am a new board member and was elected President when I missed the first meeting due to an emergency. So we have since had 3 meetings with one member being late the last two meetings and she was actually almost an hour late at the last meeting. Then she had to set up her laptop, get the password, talk about some gossip and after another member had personal employment issues that were discussed-nothing at all to do with our Humane Society…..4 hours later I adjourned the meeting and left to feed my farm animals late of course! I’m thinking this board stuff is not for me! I had no control of the meeting. 😔

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Hmmm... sounds like you all need to create some "rules of engagement" - an agreement on who will run the meetings and who has what responsibility. Put it in writing and ask everyone to review, agree and sign. It's a step.

[@HolyFoundationMinistries]

Wow this is so productive, am greatful

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Happy to hear it!

[@HolyFoundationMinistries]

@@AmberMelanieSmith I humbly request to have more lessons about leading a non-profit organization,thanks

[@kendrawilhoite5832]

Love your videos!

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

:) Thanks so much Kendra!

[@kendrawilhoite5832]

@@AmberMelanieSmith You're welcome!

[@jamesoldman3021]

To what degree does the Executive Director control or run the meeting? I'm a new President and find that our ED wants to run the meeting. I got elected directly to President (big mistake) after serving several years on another NP board but we did not have an ED. Maybe I'm being sensitive on the subject but I find that questions asked by the board are directed to the ED rather than the Chair. Right now I'm feeling like a second wheel that is not needed. Any suggestions appreciated.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Hmm, it should be a collaborative effort I'd say. Do you meet in advance of the meeting to co-create the agenda and decide who will say what? That might help a bit too, in setting expectations.

[@jamesoldman3021]

@@AmberMelanieSmith We do meet and set the agenda and have written reports from myself and the ED. A lot of the discussion is not adding anything to the meeting and find that a few monopolise the discussion. I've asked to avoid crosstalk but it does not stop it.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

@@jamesoldman3021 Hopefully this isn't a silly question, but have you just had a frank conversation with them about how this is making you feel?

[@skatestraight5847]

We are starting a NON profit called skate straight, it is recovery support and resource center. I NEED all the help!

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Good luck on your launch!