Valerie F. Leonard

Community Development Consultant

...For results that stand the test of time.

The 7 Deadly Sins

of Board Development

We have all heard of the 7 deadly sins for our everyday lives—lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. These vices, if left unchecked, can lead to harmful consequences.  When it comes to board development, there are 7 mistakes that can stagnate organizational growth.

1.       Selecting board members based on friendship or family relationship, without regard to level of commitment, core values or skills the prospective members bring. 

2.       Allowing prominent, or “big name”, people to come onto the board with the understanding that they won’t be able to make meetings or attend functions

3.       Having board members “rubber stamp” decisions made by the board president or executive director, without discussing the benefits and consequences of the decision upon the organization.

4.       Lack of commitment and participation from board members

5.       Failure to adequately monitor the organization’s finances

6.       Failure to file required annual reports with the state and local government

7.       Failure to keep abreast of the latest developments in the organization’s industry, locale or community

To learn more about how your organization can avoid the 7 deadly sins of board development and other pitfalls, be sure to register for Capacity Building Blocks^TM, a 10-week workshop series for nonprofit leaders who are serious about maximizing community impact. The interactive workshops will provide an in-depth organizational assessment, and balance of instruction, case studies and group activities designed to help participants strengthen their organizations’ infrastructure, and position them for long term sustainability. The workshops will take place every Tuesday, from September 15, through November 17, 2009 at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 North Central Park, in Chicago, from 9:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon. Participants may take any number of workshops based on individual needs.  The workshop fees range from $65.00 per workshop to $45.00, depending upon the number of participants or workshops.

About the Author

Valerie F. Leonard is a Chicago-based community development consultant, with a mission to strengthen the capacity of organizations to make a positive impact on the communities they serve through technical assistance, specialized workshops, resource and organizational development and project management. For further information, you may call Ms. Leonard at 773-521-3137, visit www.valeriefleonard.com or e-mail her at consulting@valeriefleonard.com.

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Last modified: 09/07/09