Catapult Institute Workshop: Strategically Building Your Board of Tomorrow

It all starts with who sits around the board table. A board that is thoughtful, intentional, and strategic is well positioned to address whatever lies ahead. Are you struggling to engage your board in effective board fundraising? Does the board mire itself in operational details rather than courageously addressing key opportunities, challenges, and risks facing the organization? Does your board need coaching to share a powerful mission message with your community?

The first step in addressing whatever ails your board is to rethink your ideal board composition as you look forward.

This highly interactive session will help you think differently about:

• the board member lifecycle
• the importance of identification and cultivation in the recruitment process
• how and where to find potential board candidates
• how to integrate diversity in board development
• how to develop a great orientation for new board members
• how to cultivate a pipeline of leaders within the board

Who is the workshop for?

• Nonprofit Executive Directors/CEOs
• Nonprofit Board Presidents/Chairs
• All Nonprofit Board members, especially Governance Committee Members

About Presenter

Susan S. Meier - Principal, Meier and Associates

In addition to serving as a BoardSource senior governance consultant, Susan Meier is the principal at Meier & Associates. From 2004 to 2011, Susan served as the vice president of consulting and training for BoardSource. She has spent more than 30 years in governance and nonprofit work, working collaboratively with nonprofit executives and board members to identify governance challenges and opportunities and to implement proven strategies to address a broad array of governance issues.

Much of Susan’s work has focused on increasing board engagement, board/staff relations, and leadership transitions. Specifically, she engages boards in a deeper understanding of roles and responsibilities, strategic and generative thinking, concrete ways to maximize board meetings, and addressing culture and dynamics in the boardroom. Her 13 years as a senior executive at Prevent Child Abuse America has given her concrete experience in understanding the complex and unique challenges of federated organizations and structures. Susan also has extensive experience in facilitating sensitive and important conversations and in helping boards build on their strengths to become higher-performing boards.

Susan works with all types of nonprofit organizations. Some current and past clients include ASME, American Lung Association, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Center for Excellence in Nonprofits, National Council for State Boards of Nursing, National Domestic Violence Hotline, Ronald McDonald House Charities Global, Shedd Aquarium, and the Wege Foundation, among others. Susan also has served as faculty for American University, the Kellogg School of Management Nonprofit Executive Education program, the George Washington University, and the Issues in Nonprofit Governance conference hosted by Georgetown Law, the IRS, and Independent Sector.

In addition, Susan has served on a number of boards of directors and currently serves on the Ripon College Board of Trustees. She graduated cum laude from Ripon College. She is the author of the BoardSource publication, The Board-Building Cycle: Finding, Engaging, and Strengthening Nonprofit Board Members, Third Edition.

Photo and Video Consent

By registering for this event, you are giving the Grunin Foundation permission to use photos and video on our website and social media. You will also be added to the Grunin Foundation mailing list.

This event is presented by the Grunin Foundation in partnership with Support Center and Center for Nonprofits.