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

Revisit: How to Ensure Your Bylaws Protect You and Your Board with Cliff Walters

As we approach episode 100, we think it is time to revisit some past episodes. This week, we revisit episode 32 with Cliff Walters.
In this episode, we discuss the importance of bylaws with Cliff Walters of ​Blalock Walters, P.A.​ Cliff offers useful advice for people who are on a board or thinking about joining one. He covers important topics like how bylaws protect both the board members and the organization, explains the duties of board members, highlights risks they should be aware of, and discusses other key issues.
Timestamps:
02:10 – Interview starts
02:35 – Cliff introduces himself
03:30 – The importance of bylaws
04:55 – The Articles of Incorporation
05:30 – Cliff’s by-laws philosophy
07:30 – Should you change the Articles of Incorporation or the bylaws for consistency?
09:30 – Is there one area you organizations can improve upon?
10:20 – Every board member should read the by-laws
11:33 – Key parts of the bylaws
13:07 – What committees do you recommend nonprofits have?
17:55 – How should ad-hoc committees be structured?
19:45 – How should committees operate?
22:28 – Cliff’s advice for board member tenure
25:29 – Cliff’s advice for officer tenure
27:45 – Roles and responsibilities of the board
32:15 – Areas of risk the board should be aware of
37:25 – Advice for those who might be interested in serving on a board
39:35 – 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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Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

Serving on a board can help you better understand your community with Linda Dale, CPA

This week, we speak with Linda Dale, CPA, board member, and board chair. Linda has served her community through board service for many years and is now serving as the board chair for Space Coast Health Foundation for the second time. Together, we talk about how being a CPA has led her to serving as treasurer on many boards, how understanding financials helps her execute her fiduciary duties, and advice for nonprofit board chairs.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introducing Linda Dale, CPA and Board Member
04:15 Serving on a credit union board
07:05 How understanding financials has helped Linda’s board service
09:00 Serving as board chair as second time
11:30 Biggest challenges of being board chair
14:30 Understanding your community
19:00 Do you recommend joining a nonprofit board?
20:50 Advice for board chairs
23:55 Final advice
25:30 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
iHeartRadio
Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

Building & Strengthening Relationships Among Board Members

This week, we discuss the need to have strong relationships around the board room. These relationships don't just happen at board meetings. You need to be intentional about forming relationships among your board members. This means, creating opportunities every meeting for people to get to know each other, having off-site board retreats where board members can share a meal, and remembering that just because they meet once per month, does not mean the board is getting any closer.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Building and strengthening relationships among board members
01:10 - Be intentional about creating connection
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

Reporting from the Nonprofit Boardroom with Mark Gordon

This week, we interview Mark Gordon, nonprofit board member and Managing Editor of the Business Observer. Together, we discuss Mark’s motivation for serving on nonprofits boards, what he has learned from serving on boards, 501(c)6 vs 501(c)3 service, and preconceptions about serving on boards.
Mark is also the host of From the Corner Office, a podcast by the Business Observer which interviews leaders from around the west coast of Florida.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introducing Mark Gordon, Managing Editor for Business Observer and nonprofit board member
03:05 Why do you serve on nonprofit boards?
06:00 Finding his voice on nonprofit boards
07:10 501(c)6 vs 501(c)3 service
09:10 What have you learned from serving on boards?
12:40 What keeps you energized as a board member?
15:10 What makes a good board meeting?
16:55 How do you prepare for a board meeting?
17:55 Advice to potential board members
20:55 Parting words - Mark’s experience podcasting
22:22 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
iHeartRadio
Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

Always be Recruiting New Board Members

This week, we discuss the constant nature of board recruitment. Just because you recently onboarded this year's board members does not mean you can stop. Next year will come, board members will roll off, and new members are needed to come onto the board.
Timestamps:
00:00 Always be recruiting board members
00:40 Use your board matrix
01:40 Put them on a committee
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

The 2-hour Strategic Prioritization Process

For many organizations, July 1st marks the beginning of the new fiscal year. This is a great time to onboard new board members, energize your staff with a new budget, and strategize for the new year. In this episode, we discuss a 6-step process to identify your organization's strategic direction in 2 hours. As a board, you do not need to spend all day discussing your direction. You can get your organization's priorities within 120 minutes. Once you set the priorities, sit back and let the staff carry out your vision for the organization.
Timestamps:
00:00 Identify strategic priorities for next year
01:25 Ground yourself in the mission
02:07 SWOT analysis
03:05 Aspirations
03:55 Prioritization
05:25 Step back - and hand it off to staff
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

Give your Executive Director a Break!

It is the week of July 4th, a perfect time for your executive director to take a vacation. As a board member, you should ensure that your executive director is taking time off to be able to refresh and continue to drive the mission forward. Many leaders of organizations do not take adequate time off, leading to burn out and lower retention rates. Make sure your Executive Director is taking time off this week.
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

From Beneficiary to Board Chair with Chris Williams, Salvation Army Manatee County

This week, we speak with Chris Williams, owner of Aginto and Advisory Board Chair of Salvation Army Manatee County. Chris came to Salvation Army first as a client, then as a volunteer, and after some time was asked to join the board and then be board chair. In this episode, we discuss how Chris approaches his board meetings, communicating with other board members and with the executive director, and Chris provides words of advice for those who may be interested in serving on a nonprofit board.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introducing Chris Williams, Advisory Board Chair Salvation Army Manatee County
04:00 Why did you become board chair?
05:15 How does volunteering to lead a board help you at work?
06:22 Managing a nonprofit board
07:55 Communicating with the Executive Director and Area Commanders
10:25 How do you approach your board meetings?
11:55 What surprised you about the nonprofit space?
13:55 Words of advice for joining a nonprofit board
15:35 Shining light on an organization’s mission
17:10 Last thoughts
18:45 Recapping with Read
Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms:
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Spotify Podcasts
Amazon
iHeartRadio
Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

3 Types of Succession Plans: Acting, Interim, and Rising CEO

Last week, we discussed retaining your CEO or executive director. This week, we transition to executive succession planning. We discuss having a plan for an acting CEO, an interim CEO, and a rising CEO. Many organizations want to bring along the next leader while their current CEO is still running the show. However, not every organization has that luxury and needs to have a plan in case the CEO has to step away in an emergency.
Timestamps:
00:00 Executive Succession Planning
01:20 Understanding the executive’s role
02:05 3 types of succession plans
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

Executive Director Retention Planning

This week, we tackle the subject of executive retention planning. More specifically, the importance of performance plans, compensation, and bonus structure. High performers want to know how to improve, and they want compensation tied to performance. A problem comes when boards do not clearly define the CEO/ED's bonus structure or compensation plan. It is the board’s role to ensure proper compensation strategy. To do this, they must also complete executive performance assessments.
Timestamps:
00:00 Retention planning
01:50 The importance of performance plans
03:55 Compensation and bonus structure
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