I 501(c) You - The Podcast for NonProfit Board Members

Two Sides of the Coin: Cultivating a High-Performing Board with Cheryl Taylor

With a wealth of knowledge and a lifetime of experience, Cheryl Taylor of Taylor Leadership elegantly shares with us thoughtful and actionable steps to create a high-performing nonprofit board of directors. Cheryl has immense experience in the nonprofit sector, having been the President and CEO of the Foellinger Foundation for 20 years. She has cultivated and engaged with hundreds of high-performing boards and is here today to share her wisdom with us. In this episode, Cheryl speaks from two perspectives: the board recruiting a new member and the new member being recruited by the board.
Cheryl is now a leadership coach and consultant, helping nonprofit leaders develop their leadership strengths and talent in a respectful, empathetic, and honest style.
Referenced Resource- BoardSource: The Guide to Board Member Roles and Responsibilities 
Timestamps:
00:50 - Interview starts/Cheryl introduces herself
03:00 - Cheryl’s experience with high performing boards
04:15 - How does a board identify future board members?
05:55 - How do you invite someone onto the board?
07:00 - Best practices in vetting potential board members?
10:00 - Whose responsibility is it to recruit board members?
12:20 - What should someone think about when being approached to join a board?
15:10 - What questions should someone ask when being approached to join a board?
21:45 - Why is it important for every board member to contribute financially to the organization?
23:45 - The best boards keep track of board engagement
26:25 - Is it important to have some involvement with the organization before joining the board?
28:05 - Reflect on your interest and ability to be involved in the board before joining
32:40 - Recapping with Read
Join us every week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.
Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:
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Building a Better Board: 3 Essential Tips for Nonprofit Recruitment

A friend of mine reached out to me recently. She is stepping into the role of Board Chair and is wondering how she can recruit new board members.
I have received this question a lot. Having experience as a board chair, I know the struggles that come with recruiting new board members. 
Listen to this episode to get my answers to the question, "how do I recruit new board members?"
Timestamps:
01:08 - Identify the skills you want on your board
01:40 - Identify the current skills you have on your board
02:40 - Have a board member recruitment process
03:30 - Have an advisory council or committees that non-board members can serve on
Join us every week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.
Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:
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Joining a Board? Be a ”contributor” not a ”placeholder”! with Cathy Layton

This week we are joined by Chair Emeritus of The Bay Park Conservancy, Cathy Layton. Cathy has a tremendous amount of experience on nonprofit boards and have been the chair of several organizations, most recently, The Bay Park Conservancy. 
Cathy shares her life lessons from being on nonprofit boards, how she operates as a board chair, and thoughts those being asked to join a board should keep in mind.
We are extremely appreciative of Cathy for sharing her insights from 20+ years of nonprofit service.
 
Key Takeaways:
When thinking about joining a board, take inventory of your strengths and make sure that is what the organization needs.
Boards need to tell board members what is expected of them.
Be a contributor to a board, not a placeholder.
If you say "yes" to too many favors and would like a graceful way to say "no", Cathy offers this phrase: "I love what you are offering, but I am fully focused on this effort for the foreseeable future."
 
Timestamps:
00:40 - Interview Starts
01:00 - Cathy introduces herself
02:10 - What are your life lessons when reflecting on your board service?
04:20 - “I love what you're offering, but I am fully focused on this effort for the foreseeable future.”
06:20 - How did you evolve to become a board chair?
08:20 - Placeholder vs contributors on a board
11:20 - As a board chair, how do you deal with placeholders?
12:25 - Board need to tell board members what is expected of them
13:20 - Being on a board is “service”
14:55 - Criteria for finding the right board
17:57 - Should you meet with the CEO before joining a board?
20:05 - The dynamics between board, board chair, and CEO
23:50 - Annual meetings are a great time to review board expectations
25:05 - Frequency of communication between board chair and CEO
26:30 - What is Cathy’s style of leading the board?
29:40 - When you are doing work you care about, it is personally enriching
31:20 - Recapping with Read
 
Join us every week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.
Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:
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Spotify Podcasts
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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast
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Brace for Impact: 7 Ways to Protect Your Nonprofit During a Recession

Every news outlet is talking about it, a recession. However, not many are talking about what a nonprofit leader can do to prepare their organizations. In this episode, Michael shares his 7 actions nonprofit leaders can take to prepare their organizations for a recession.
 
Timestamps:
00:45 - Introduction
01:00 - Michael’s 7 tips for nonprofit leaders to prepare for a recession
02:15 - Plan and Prepare
04:05 - Be open with your stakeholders
04:55 - Align expenses with new revenue projections
06:25 - Prepare for staff reductions
08:45 - Review and update your budget
09:53 - Diversity revenue streams
10:30 - Build relationships with community partners
Join us every week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.
Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:
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The Board’s Role in Recruiting a New CEO with Charlie Murphy

In this episode of I 501(c) You, we talk about the board's role in a recruiting a new CEO with Charlie Murphy. Charlie, who has participated in over 12 search committees, offers valuable insight on how to recruit and hire a new CEO for a nonprofit organization. Charlie talks about the value of an interim CEO, hiring a search firm, the search committee's obligation to the board, and more.
"The ultimate responsibility of the board is to hire the right CEO for the organization." -Charlie Murphy
After listening to this episode, you'll have a better understanding of how to find and hire your organization's next CEO.
Major Takeaways:
Do not hire someone just to get a CEO in the seat. Wait until you find the right candidate (this is harder said than done). (37:00)
You can make the transition process fun. Use this time as an opportunity to upgrade the position. (3:15)
Utilize a search firm. They can help you with many aspects of the hiring process and find you the best candidate for your organization. (5:30)
Timestamps:
00:00 - Episode Introduction
01:00 - Interview starts and Charlie introduces himself
03:00 - How do you approach the recruiting and identification of a new CEO?
04:25 - How do you rally the board when a CEO exits?
05:25 - When should a board engage a search firm versus conducting the search on their own?
07:15 - Name a search committee
08:20 - Evaluating internal candidates
10:45 - How many people should be on the search committee?
12:10 - What is the search committee's obligation to the board?
14:16 - Benefits of hiring a consultant
14:55 - Interviewing a funder’s recommended candidate
16:20 - Bringing in the final candidates from the search firm
18:00 - Do you want to have an interim CEO?
19:40 - The discipline of hiring the right CEO
22:50 - Preserving the confidentiality of candidates
25:30 - What is the board’s role in onboarding the new CEO?
28:30 - Do you onboard an internal hire differently than an external hire?
30:20 - Leaders need to have a vision
31:05 - How do you approach compensation for a new CEO?
35:00 - Search firms and background checks
36:45 - What should you avoid doing when beginning the hiring process of a new CEO?
39:05 - Any last thoughts?
41:34 - Recapping with Read
Join us every week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.
Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify Podcasts
Amazon
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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast
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New Year’s Resolutions for Nonprofit Board Chairs

In this episode, Michael shares his top five resolutions for nonprofit board chairs. These resolutions focus on building relationships, succession planning, and other areas that every board chair can improve upon. Listen to the episode for more information and check below for timestamps for each resolution.
 
Timestamps:
00:00 - Episode Starts
01:13 - #1 - Strengthen relationships with Board members
02:10 - #2 - Establish a consistent rhythm working with the CEO/ED
03:14 - #3 - Establish the priorities for 2023
04:15 - #4 - Conduct a performance review for the CEO
05:48 - #5 - Start succession planning
06:58 - Conclusion
Join us every week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.
Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:
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Spotify Podcasts
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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast
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Ready, Set, Inflation: Nonprofit Leaders’ Guide to Preparing for Rising Prices

Are you a nonprofit leader concerned about the impact of rising levels of inflation on your organization? In this episode, we will share 7 quick tips to help you prepare for and manage the effects of inflation.
First, it's important to understand what inflation is and how it can affect your organization. Inflation is a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money. It can occur when the supply of money increases faster than the demand for goods and services, leading to a decrease in the value of money.
Listen to this episode and we will provide you with 7 quick and actionable items you can use to prepare for rising levels of inflation in less than 10 minutes!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:50 - Podcast Starts
02:00 - #1 - Talk to your leadership team
02:35 - #2 - Educate your staff
03:04 - #3 - Scrutinize your expenses to eliminate waste
04:10 - #4 - Consider a budget adjustment
05:20 - #5 - Start to track your funding sources
05:58 - #6 - Explore an earlier launch of a fundraising campaign
06:35 - #7 - If you have earned income, raise your prices
07:22 - Conclusion
08:15 - Honor your mission
Join us every week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.
Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:
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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast
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How to Run an Effective Nonprofit Board Meeting

Too often do we participate in a board meeting and think “this could have been an email” or "this board meeting is really a bored-meeting". We never want your board members to think that about one of your board meetings. On episode 11 of I 501(c) You - The Podcast for NonProfit Board Members, we are going to provide you with actionable items you can use to run a more effective nonprofit board meeting.
We appreciate anyone who is willing to step up and be the Board Chair of their nonprofit organization. It takes work, time, and effort to be the chair. That is why we want to provide you with some quick, easy to implement, actionable items that can turn your next board meeting into a strategic discussion with purpose.
Michael takes you through how he plans for and runs a nonprofit board meeting step by step. He has been a board chair of multiple organizations for several years and a board member for even longer. Please enjoy Michael's step by step breakdown of how to run an effective board meeting.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:06 - Topic starts
01:40 - Importance of the board meeting
02:55 - Get clarity and purpose of the board meeting
03:44 - Building the agenda and board packet
05:45 - Get RSVP’s
06:15 - Start the meeting on time
08:15 - Importance and utilization of the consent agenda
09:37 - Guest speaker
10:36 - Discuss strategic items
11:28 - Being a facilitator of the board meeting (manage participation, flow of discussion, speak last)
14:00 - Importance of the Executive Session
15:40 - End the meeting on time
17:50 - Post-meeting
18:50 - Michael’s opinion on Robert’s Rules
 
Join us every week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.
Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:
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Using Deferred Compensation to Attract and Retain your CEO w/ Chris Rich

On episode 10 of I 501(c) You - The Podcast for NonProfit Board Members we are interviewing Chris Rich, co-founder of Executive Benefits Solutions, a firm that works with companies to improve the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of benefit programs to key employees and professionals.
Chris has over 25 years of experience in executive compensation and benefits consulting, so today we are speaking with him about deferred compensation in the nonprofit industry. We believe this is extremely topical, because as Chris says in this episode, "In the past 25-30 years of doing this, I don't think we have ever seen a time when the need to attract and retain key employees was greater, and this is particularly true in nonprofit organizations."
We hope this provides you with a little more information about deferred compensation so you can begin thinking about what it might take to retain your current talent and attract future talent in the nonprofit space.
Key Takeaways:
A common practice among nonprofits currently is to inject performance metrics into compensation plans. (4:50)
The time in an organization's trajectory when they should implement a deferred compensation plan is sooner, rather than later. (25:00)
Nonprofit board members are curious about the trends in for-profit deferred compensation and how they can be brought to the nonprofit sector. (28:30)
 
Timestamps:
00:20 - Introduction
01:10 - Interview starts
01:30 - Chris provides his background
03:20 - What is deferred compensation and why would an organization offer it?
05:10 - How can a Board of director begin to understand what the opportunities are for deferred compensation?
09:45 - What are different approaches to deferred compensation?
14:15 - There is rarely a perfect solution
15:30 - Life insurance based programs can offer significant incentives
18:20 - How do you determine key employees that should participate in deferred compensation?
23:00 - Is any organization too big or too small for deferred compensation?
25:00 - Any specific time in an organization’s trajectory they should implement deferred compensation?
28:10 - Anything else?
28:30 - Trends
32:47 - Recapping with Read
 
Join us every week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.
Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify Podcasts
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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast
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4 Common Misconceptions about joining a Nonprofit Board

In this episode of I 501(c) You - The Podcast for Nonprofit Board Members, we are debunking 4 common misconceptions about joining a nonprofit board of directors. 
When you are so entrenched in a topic, it is easy to forget that there are people that believe the barrier to entry is higher than it really is. With this episode, we debunk some of the common misconceptions about joining a nonprofit board to help you realize joining a nonprofit board is more attainable than you think. We also address what we believe you need in order to serve a nonprofit organization by joining a nonprofit board of directors.
We want to help nonprofit board members be the best they can be so they can utilize their resources to assist their organizations to the fullest. We believe that one way we can assist in this endeavor is to encourage more people to get interested in serving an organization through joining their board of directors. Please share this episode with someone who you think should join a nonprofit board of directors, but is worried about one of these common misconceptions.
If there are other concerns about joining a nonprofit board that you want addressed, reach out to us via the contact form on our website and we would be happy to address your concern.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:45 - Misconceptions about being on a nonprofit board
01:15 - Misconception #1: You need to be rich and I need to fundraise
03:00 - Misconception #2: I need to be in the latter half of my career or older
04:11 - Misconception #3: I am not qualified to oversee the organization’s mission
05:05 - Misconception #4: I don't have many connections or I am not well known in the community
06:10 - What does someone need to be on a nonprofit board?
06:35 - #1: Passion for the mission
07:20 - #2: Connection to the organization
08:00 - Conclusion
 
Join us every week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization.
Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify Podcasts
Amazon
iHeartRadio
Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast
Follow us on:
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