Good Governance— Leadership Excellence

Welcome back! Your ideas matter here!

Capacity Partnership Group

Glen Peterson

Good Governance—
Leadership Excellence

A Workshop in #Policy Governance®

Saturday, February 26, 2011

9 AM – 2 PM; Lunch included

Whittier Area Community Church
8100 Colima Road, Whittier, CA 90605

“Boards: Bar Fights, and Beautiful Music:

how to avoid the one, and make lots of the other”

A workshop in board governance for nonprofit and community benefit organizations, we will examine the practical usage of Policy Governance, a comprehensive model of board governance. This is a new paradigm for governance and ensures organizational results and accountability that is safe and fair. We will look at the foundational work of the board—the work that no other group of volunteers can be expected to do.

A board of directors needs to know its job and have the right tools. The job of governance is about values, vision, empowerment of both board and staff, and the strategic ability to lead leaders. This workshop looks at how a board of directors brings added value to a new organization. The workshop is designed as an introduction and to help everyone from beginners to veterans. It is for new board members and executives.

As workshop participants, board members and staff leaders will gain an appreciation of leadership through governance; define the roles of management and board distinct from one another; identify the unique job outputs of the board; and learn how to avoid meddling and "rubber-stamping" by boards.

There is a nominal fee of $85 for the first person from an organization and $25 for additional persons from the same organization will be charged. Lunch and materials are included. All fees are due and payable in advance.

Future Policy Governance workshops to be offered in 2011 include: Ends Policy Writing, Policy Writing Blitz, Monitoring, Connection to Ownership.

For more information call Glen at 562/400-4739.

Sign up here.

More from Capacity Partnership Group here.

Post Office Box 693

Whittier, CA 90608

gpeterson@capacitypartnership.com

562/400-4739 [mobile & voice mail or text]

Please leave a comment.

Recommended Board Member Notebook Contents

Welcome back! Sometimes I get some really good questions from clients about board issues. I liked this question about what information is routinely needed by board members and at board meetings. Here are my ideas for 2010.

• Board Level Policy Document: (1) Ends, (3) Staff Limitations, (3) Board-staff linkage, (4) board process (includes conflict of interest, compensation policy)
• Bylaws
• Minutes from previous meetings
• Board roster that includes contact information and affiliations
• Board member commitment letter, conflict of interest declaration (signed copy)
• Board Agenda Schedule (calendars board meetings 18-24 months into the future)
• Organizational calendar with all organization’s events
• Most recent board process training content, example: Governance Matters, Good Training document: Governance is Leadership Excellence by Capacity Partnership Group.

Several new clients now have this as a training tool to orient new board members and assist board doe their work. Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Introduction Questions for Board Leaders

Welcome!

These questions are to help you begin thinking about your role as a board member and work of boards of directors for your organization.  Think about these and give it your best shot to answer them on paper and bring your thoughts to our training workshop.

• What is the board for?
• What job outputs should the board produce?
• What is the relationship between a board and the organization’s staff?
• What difficulties has your board faced?
• What questions do you have today about boards?
• Does the board have a model or resource to look toward for help, structure or advice?

 Boards do not necessarily do what they need to do or hold themselves accountable for job outputs. After you have thought about these questions, go to this link and read some basic definitions and review your answers. This is were we will begin our work together at the training workshop.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)

My colleague, Terri Larson is presenting a workshop on Asset Based Community Development for Faith-Based Organizations.

May 19 – 20, 2010

Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Thursday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Templo Calvario CDC

2617 W. 5th St.

Santa Ana, CA 92703

Cost: $50.00 per person
(Price includes: workshop materials, continental breakfast and lunch)

REGISTRATION
Register on-line at www.kingdomcauses.org


Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)
In many communities, churches and organizations attempt community transformation by asking what is wrong in the community, what has to be fixed. ABCD approaches community transformation by asking what is right, what is working and how can everyone contribute their skills and passion to make life better!

We invite you to join us for an engaging and interactive event where we will learn how to look at our community as places of great treasure! Training includes:

• Theology of Development
• Needs-Based vs. Asset-Based
• Social Service vs. Community Building
• Gifts of Individuals
• The Negative Power of Labels
• Gifts of Associations & Institutions
• Stewardship Role of the Local Church
• Discovering What People Care About
• Listening Conversations
• Community Transformation Model
• Role of Connector/Catalyst
• Setting the Table for Community Partnership & Collaboration
• The Community Organizing Process – ABCD into Action
• Asset-Mapping – Circles of Care
• Champions for a Stronger Community – Next Steps

New Topics for Workshop training and technical assistance for application

Welcome back!

2010 Workshop Topics

This is a partial list of topics and concerns that Capacity Partnership can address for your group or organization. Topics can be presented as training workshops or combined with a process to implement and integrate the content with your organization or church. Three of the topics are newly tested and received high evaluations from the participants.

1. Nonprofit Basics:  through advanced Board Governance for nonprofit organizations: Good Governance—Leadership Excellence, Governance Matters, “Board Rooms Bar Fights and Beautiful Music—more of the later, less of the later”
2. Nonprofit Basics: Strategic Planning—a road map for accomplishing organizational results and improving its capacity to do that better. Moving away from “strategic planning is stupid” to planning as a process to inform the life of your organization.
3. Nonprofit Basics: Strategic Resource Development—finding the partners and resources to move toward your vision and fulfilling your mission.
4. Nonprofit Basics: Navigate your Nonprofit Status, Discover the benefits and responsibilities afforded by a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt status
5. Nonprofit Basics: Policies and Procedures: Clarify your organizational values with clear, written policies and procedures.
6. Nonprofit Basics: Assessment and capacity building.
7. Nonprofit Basics: Collaboration and Partnerships
8. Nonprofit Basics: Financial Management and Systems. Financial literacy for people person who think they don’t understand numbers and dollars.
9. Visioning. If you can you see your community, the people who live and work there in a new and better way there is a way of getting you there.
10. Justice and Compassion Ministry for the Church. Does the Bible really say all that about the poor, the widows, the orphans and the strangers? Then how do we move to a response that will really help?
11. Immigration and immigrants, Christian perspective. Christians at the Border: a biblical look at immigrants and immigration. Cristianos en la frontera: una mirada bíblica en los inmigrantes y la inmigración.

 


Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Training events coming up [Updated]

Welcome back! Let me know if we can serve you through these training events.

Thursday, January 21, 2010, 9:30 am – 12 noon
How to Navigate Becoming a 501 (c) 3 
"Is 501(c)3 the Suitable Thing to be for your Entity?"

Find out the benefits of tax-exempt status under IRC 501 (c) 3. Determine whether, when and how to proceed with this important step. Discover what additional responsibilities, reporting and legal obligations come with this status. Participants will know how to determine the most advantageous status for their organization. Founders, board members, and directors will benefit from this workshop.

Friday, January 22, 2010, 9:30 am – 12 noon
Organizational Policies and Procedures
"Advantages of Well-considered Policies and Procedures"

What makes for clear and efficient expression of an organization's values? This workshop will demonstrate how a system of explicit policies and procedures can and should do that. Policies define why your organization exists and the difference it will make outside of its own walls. Policies and procedures provide guidance on how organizations treat people and handle money and other resources. Monitoring organizational behavior as an essential practice will be explored. Founders, board members, directors, new and established organizations will find this workshop helpful.

Glen Peterson has led and been a catalyst within grass-roots, community, and faith-based organizations in Miami, Chicago, Indianapolis, South Los Angeles, Pomona and other geographies. Glen has worked with immigrants, youth, parolees, recovery, and other specialized populations. He is passionate about transformation in people and communities across cultural, economic and social barriers. Organizational development expertise is in board governance function using Policy Governance®, strategic planning, resource development planning, economic development through traditional wage employment programs, self-employment and microenterprise, asset development and financial literacy programs. Capacity Partnership Group can help you with any nonprofit, community or faith-based organizational development or program need.

For the context of when and where and to whom this training is to be offered, click here.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Consulting Services Available Now

Welcome back! Updates to my resume and interests in consulting and self-employment

Summary

• Project conceptualization to completion, management, compliance, evaluation, and communication strategy
• Written communication and project reporting
  
• Assessment of organizational and community needs, capacity building planning, coaching, mentoring
• Outcome and asset mapping, community partnerships and linkages
• Integration of Christian faith with compassion and justice, economic & community development, microenterprise, microfinance and workforce development
• Board governance process and function using Policy Governance® model, board policy design
• Nonprofit startup, strategic planning, program design, board recruitment
• Experienced in faith based community development and nonprofit leadership

Recent Consultant Roles

Board Development and Governance Function Since 2003
• Focusing board on exchange it has with the world as outcomes and impacts outside of its own walls
• Implementation, training, monitoring, comprehensive governance model for boards
• Development of training materials, policy writing and monitoring tools

Organizational Growth, Program Design, Evaluation Since 2003

• Designed and implemented community and economic development projects, workforce development
• In depth organizational assessment, leadership mentoring, growth planning and management
• Community development, partnerships and collaborations

Workshops & Teaching Since 1989

• Designed curriculum, workshops for adults, evaluated results, and one-hour to multiple-day conference workshops all areas of nonprofit management, community development, immigration, mentoring
• Classroom teaching, adult learning, workshops, public speaking—board governance process, board development, economic development as microenterprise, financial literacy and fiscal management, resource development, fund raising strategy

Professional History

World Vision Southern California Metro Los Angeles and Pomona, CA
Program Manager 2006-2007

• Managed $875,000 project to provide training, coaching, and technical assistance
• Designed a sub-award program including competitive application process, application evaluation, completion
• Assessed, mentored leadership in community organizations in south Los Angeles and Pomona
• Communicated results to internal and external clients, including US government partners

Mennonite Economic Development Associates Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Indianapolis
Regional Manager 2003-2005

• Managed a $3,750,000 project to increase capacity of 40 organizations in 5 in the USA.
• Planned organizational development strategies with leaders of community and faith-based organizations.
• Designed grantmaking program, evaluated applications and made award decisions.
• Monitored and evaluated progress of capacity building projects with organizational clients and consultants.

Job Starts, Inc. Los Angeles, CA
Executive Director 1989-2004

• Designed and implemented faith-based microenterprise, workforce development, financial literacy, and Asset Development programs to improve the economic wellbeing of families in south Los Angeles.
• Developed linkages with businesses, financial institutions and community partners to reach mutual goals and outcomes

Education

Master of Divinity, Denver Seminary, Denver, Colorado
Bachelor of Arts, InterCultural Studies, Biola University, La Mirada, California

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Board Governance All-day Workshop October 17, 2009 in Whittier, CA

Welcome back!

Good Governance—Leadership Excellence

A Workshop in Policy Governance®

Saturday, October 17, 2009
9 AM – 3 PM; Lunch included
Whittier Area Community Church [WACC]
8175 Villaverde Dr., Whittier, CA 90605

“Boards: Bar Fights, and Beautiful Music: how to avoid the one, and make lots of the other”

A workshop in board governance for nonprofit and community benefit organizations, we will examine the practical usage of a comprehensive model of board governance. This is not best-practices in the sense of increasing the board’s busyness. We will look at the foundational work of the board—the work that no other group of volunteers can be expected to do.

A board of directors needs to know its job and have the right tools. The job of governance is about values, vision, empowerment of both board and staff, and the strategic ability to lead leaders. This workshop looks at how a board of directors brings added value to a new organization. The workshop is designed as an introduction and to help everyone from beginners to veterans.

As workshop participants, board members and staff leaders will gain an appreciation of leadership through governance; define the roles of management and board distinct from one another; identify the unique job outputs of the board; and learn how to avoid meddling and "rubber-stamping" by boards.

A nominal fee of $50 for the first person from an organization and $20 for additional persons from the same organization will be charged. Lunch is included. WACC will provide scholarships for Whittier organizations that serve the poor or disadvantaged of the community.

For more information call Glen at 562/400-4739.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Good Governance—Leadership Excellence--Workshop, October 17, 2009, Whittier, CA

Welcome back!

"Boards, Bar Fights, and Beautiful Music: how to avoid the one, and make lots of the other."

Saturday, October 17, 2009; 9 AM – 3 PM; Lunch included. Whittier Area Community Church, 8175 Villaverde Dr., Whittier, CA 90605

A board of directors needs to know its job and have the right tools. The job of governance is about values, vision, empowerment of both board and staff, and the strategic ability to lead leaders. There are 3 job outputs that a board of directors must accomplish that no other group of volunteers can. Do you know what those are? You will if you attend this workshop. This workshop looks at how a board of directors brings added value to a new organization. The workshop is designed as an introduction and to help everyone from beginners to veterans.

As workshop participants, board members and staff leaders will gain an appreciation of leadership through governance; define the roles of management and board distinct from one another; identify the unique job outputs of the board; and learn how to avoid meddling and "rubber-stamping" by boards.

A nominal fee of $50 for the first person from an organization and $20 for additional persons from the same organization will be charged. WACC will provide scholarships for Whittier organizations that serve the poor or disadvantaged of the community.

Board Governance is the job of the group granted full accountability and full authority for value produced on behalf of those who morally if not legally own the organization. It is the servant-leadership work of the highest and initial authority within the organization.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Board Governance All-day Workshop October 17, 2009 in Whittier, CA

Welcome back!

Good Governance—Leadership Excellence

Saturday, October 17, 2009; 9 AM – 3 PM; Lunch included. Whittier Area Community Church, 8175 Villaverde Dr., Whittier, CA 90605

A board of directors needs to know its job and have the right tools. The job of governance is about values, vision, empowerment of both board and staff, and the strategic ability to lead leaders. This workshop looks at how a board of directors brings added value to a new organization. The workshop is designed as an introduction and to help everyone from beginners to veterans.

As workshop participants, board members and staff leaders will gain an appreciation of leadership through governance; define the roles of management and board distinct from one another; identify the unique job outputs of the board; and learn how to avoid meddling and "rubber-stamping" by boards.

A nominal fee of $50 for the first person from an organization and $20 for additional persons from the same organization will be charged. WACC will provide scholarships for Whittier organizations that serve the poor or disadvantaged of the community.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

8th Annual Foundations & Corporations Roundtable

Brought to you by:

Southeast Communities Prevention & Intervention Programs, Inc.
EXECUTIVE SUPPORT NETWORK
8th Annual Foundations & Corporations Roundtable
You are invited to join us as we meet and build relationships with foundations and Corporations

SAVE THE DATE:
Thursday July 23, 2009
Foundations & Corporations Invited:
John Gogian Foundation Vineyard Bank
Union Pacific Rail road Annenberg Foundation
Crail Johnson Foundation
Guest Speaker : Jim Clarke, Mayor’s Office Stimulus money for Nonprofits

LOCATION: California Endowment Foundation
1000 N. Alameda Street, ( Mojave Room )
Los Angeles, CA 90012
TIME: 8:30 – 9:00 Registration & Breakfast

Guest Speaker Jim Clarke, Mayor’s Office: 9:00 - 10:00
Stimulus Money for Nonprofits

Funders Panel: 10:00 – 11:00
One on one visits with Funders 11:00 – 12:00

Registration deadline July 20, 2009 space is limited
Early registration $ 75.00
On Site registration $ 90.00

For additional information contact: Eddie Mae Williams at (323) 290-3593 or emaewilliams@scpip.org

Breakfast Served

Also on Facebook.


Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Books I Recommend to You as a Community Nonprofit Leader

Welcome back!

I made these book recommendations to the group on Saturday:

On board governance model as presented:

The 24-page introduction to the 10 principles that I presented: CarverGuide, Basic Principles of Policy Governance (J-B Carver Board Governance Series) (Vol 1)


The larger text book on Policy Governance: Boards That Make a Difference (J-B Carver Board Governance Series)

The Q & A book with short chapters that answer a bunch of basic questions: Nonprofit Board Answer Book: Practical Guidelines for Board Members and Chief Executives

On business and organizational theory by Jim Collins:


This is a popular book that helps successful companies become more successful: Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't


A short follow up, stand alone chapter where Jim Collins addresses some specific issues for social sector organizations: Good to Great and the Social Sectors: A Monograph to Accompany Good to Great

I appreciate complements whenever they come: Colleen Marks told me that our session was "dope" and "out-of-the-bun." So, there you go!

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Twenty things to do through the crises (and all the time for that matter)

Welcome back!
A panel of nonprofit and community organization leaders got together last week and talked about what people need to know and what they are doing and consider the way through the current situation and beyond. Here are some highlights:

• Assess where you are today—board, staff, programs, think strategically
• Evaluate things you already have available volunteers, clients (can help solve problems), board members, donors, who else?
• If already in trouble, don’t panic, get help
• Make changes
• Communicate and increase donorship and stewardship
• Get everyone involved in fundraising—get everyone at the table
• Focus on mission (production of ends) and beneficiaries
• There are no problems that are new or unique—someone has survived this problem before you.
• “Credit is a ghost, dead and gone” –Merrill Lynch (Bank of America)
• Transparency and accountability—have a communication policy and plan
• Siloing and adversarial relationships are not helpful.
• Be proactive, not reactive
• “Shop outside of your own closet” encourage communication
• Ask why board members endorse your organization—do more of that (hedgehog)
• Demonstrate credibility with consistent and clear marketing and market position.
• Crisis is an opportunity. Get the message out how now is the time for your donors, volunteers, and others to engage
• New opportunity for volunteer service—new funding coming down for National Service Corporation
• Be aware of new IRS accountability and reporting. Changes on charitable giving
• Make a plan for planned giving
• Use this as a mobilizing moment—how important is it that we will keep doing what we are doing? Engage others in this passion.

Capacity Partnership Group can help you negotiate your way through this.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Free Board Governance Workshop in Whittier on March 28

Welcome back!

This is the first time I have offered this free of charge to participants. Three and a half hours of board governance introduction and it includes lunch! Thanks to the great people at Whittier Area Community Church and their Serve Weekend project.

Good Governance--Leadership Excellence
Trainer: Glen Peterson
Whittier Area Community Church
Saturday, March 28, 2009
9 am - 1 pm
Lunch included

We can bring this workshop and
others to your geography.
Let's work on something together.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Board of Directors or Booster Club?

Welcome back!

Last week I was at an educational event for leaders of nonprofit organizations where I heard that the fundamental work of a board of directors must now be that of fundraising because some nonprofit organizations may fail because of recent adjustment of the worldwide economy. In an environment where support and resources will be in short supply, it seemed that some are saying that boards no must become booster clubs to attract diminishing sources of support.

There is a foundational disconnect with this idea that dismisses the reality that the board has real work to do that is really governance and is an essential value added to the organization.

Board fundamental job remains the same.

1. Articulation of board level values that describe what difference the organization will make in the world, who will benefit from that change and at what cost that change will be worth the investment
2. Hold the organization accountable for achieving that change without violating prestated situations and circumstances that are unacceptable
3. Linkage to the moral ownership or membership or the community on behalf of which the organization accomplishes #1 above.

It is clear that the above tasks may require certain skills of individual board members who may or may not also possess those characteristics required to be a part of this new requirement of promoting the cause to prospective funders and supporters. I highly recommend that within operations, and that may include people who also serve as board members, as many people with the right skills and attitudes be empowered and encouraged to apply all of their skills and energy into efforts that will bring the required resources to the table for organizations to continue their important work of creating a difference in the communities where they work.

The fundraising efforts and the board governance work both must be done and one cannot be achieved without the other. Capacity partnership Group provides training, assessment and evaluation and technical assistance for implementation of a complete system of board governance that equips boards of directors to accomplish the 3 job outputs listed above. These job outputs work for nonprofit organizations and for equity corporations. If boards of directors had done this work, in the financial sectors, there would be much less news about bailouts and bonuses today.


Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Two day Tax and Election Law Training for Nonprofits

. . . is offered in San Francisco, March 19-20.

The Alliance for Justice is offering:

Tax & Election Law for Nonprofits

What Every Nonprofit Lawyer or Accountant Needs to Know About Advocacy

More information is here.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Workshop on Policy Governance in Whittier

Welcome back!

Save the date for a workshop on Policy Governance (3-hour version) in Whittier, CA on March 28, 2009, 9 am to noonish. If this one fills up, we'll do it again.

Watch this space for further information.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Looking Ahead: Leadership Strategies for Turbulent Times

Welcome back!

The Center for Nonprofit Management will present a moderated panel discussion on nonprofit strategies during the current financial crisis, Looking Ahead: Leadership Strategies for Turbulent Times, on Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 3 pm - 6 pm. More information and registration here.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Alternative Board Governance Workshop Title

Welcome back!

A friend just sent me this suggestion for the name of my workshop:

"Boards, Bar Fights, and Beautiful Music: A case study in how to avoid the one, and make lots of the other."

I am going to use it in my introduction.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Policy Governance Workshop in Los Angeles, October 28

Welcome back!

I will be giving a workshop at the Southern California Center for Nonprofit Management in Los Angeles. I hope you can come and learn about the most comprehensive system of board governance that installs accountability as an organizational characteristic and adds value to the organization.

More information is here.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.