Maybe you think having a board retreat would be nice, but because your not-for-profit organization has a tight budget, you think it’s not necessary. However, consider the benefits. A retreat lets members clear their minds and focus on your organization’s most pressing issues. Chances are your board members are busy people who would benefit from the time and privacy of a retreat to brainstorm on behalf of your nonprofit without work, family, and other distractions.
Plan logistics
Don’t surprise board members with a retreat without adequate discussion. Everyone should agree to the session’s importance and overarching goals before making any reservations. Also, carefully manage logistics. Depending on your objectives, you may want to plan a half-day
in a hotel conference room or coffee house or a full weekend at someone’s vacation home. In general, the further you can get board members away from their regular work and personal responsibilities—even if only mentally—the better.
Then, create a complete agenda. Think about the outcome you’d like to achieve from the retreat. For example, if you want to end the meeting with a five-year strategic plan, your agenda might start with time to review your organization’s history and competitive research from other nonprofits. Build in plenty of time to brainstorm, take breaks, and have fun as a group.
Pick hot topics
To help ensure your board retreat enables members to find fresh solutions to your nonprofit’s most pressing issues, be thoughtful about what you’ll discuss. Consider the following topics:
- Reaching a younger donor base: Is your nonprofit doing all it can to attract younger supporters? Explore fundraising and recruiting techniques that work best with younger individuals. Consider how well you use various social media platforms.
- Employees as assets: How can the board help retain valuable employees? Consider salary, benefits, and perks such as remote employment, a relaxed dress code, or flex-time options. Factor in promotions, the path to management positions, and provide employees with meaningful work commensurate with their experience.
- Minimizing organizational risk: Are your nonprofit’s most significant risks associated with its donor base, endowments, financial investments, volunteers, or something else? Pinpoint your risks and determine whether they’re being properly monitored. Look into implementing an effective risk-management program.
- Financial reporting: What financial information about your organization would your board members like to see that they don’t receive? How would they use that information? Consider including a session on how to read your financial statements.
- Evaluating your programs: If you haven’t taken a hard look at your programs in a while, it’s probably time to do so. Which programs should be created, grown, or discontinued? How can you benchmark program performance and evaluate results?
Create an action plan
Some of the most important work must happen after the retreat is over. Be sure to recap all decisions and commitments reached and devise an action plan before the retreat ends so your board can hit the ground running. Email copies to board members and add action items to future board agendas.
Should you have any financial or accounting issues to address, please reach out to your HW Nonprofit Advisor.
