(from Associations Now) A majority of nonprofit organizations rely on an overly casual onboarding process for new board members, hindering the overall board's ability to play a strong strategic role in leading the organization. According to a new study by Hedrick & Struggles, in collaboration with George Mason University, only 45 percent of nonprofit trustees said their organization had a "defined onboarding process," and only 46 percent said their onboarding experience prepared them to be effective board members. Inadequate orientation — and what some critics call a 'checkbox' approach — may keep boards from taking bold actions that can propel organizational growth.
Besides understanding the organization's strategic and financial goals, new board members should understand its structure. This means a closer look at factors such as how decisions are made, what values drive decision-making and who in the organization does what.
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