In this lesson, we will dive into the essential topic of governance review for boards.

Governance review is the process of evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of a board's structure, practices, and performance. It helps boards identify areas of improvement and ensure they are operating in alignment with their mission and goals.

During the governance review, board members will assess their roles and responsibilities, decision-making processes, communication strategies, and overall board dynamics. They will also review their policies, bylaws, and meeting protocols to ensure they are up-to-date and reflective of best practices. By conducting a thorough governance review, boards can enhance their effectiveness, transparency, and accountability.

Key Lesson Concepts:

• Governance review evaluates board structure, practices, and performance.
• It helps identify areas of improvement and ensure alignment with mission and goals.
• Board members assess roles, decision-making processes, communication strategies, and policies.

We will take a look at two tools that can boost, if not deeply professionalize, your governance profile . My uses of the word "Deep" and "Depth gives a hint to the degree of ethical seriousness I invite us to think about our board service. Your mission deserves a board that deals with the immediate and long term priorities of the organization. But it must also create principle, practices and polcies to steward the driving, deep, purposes for which the organization exists. Most social impact organizations exist to make a transformational impact on lives. In our discussion of governance, we will offer you an opportinity to assess the readiness of your board to establish policy, direction, resource pathways and accountability.

We will conduct a check-up on a few basics of non-profit governance, making use of a Board Capacity Building Assessment, an Annual Calendar an Annual Affirmation Agreement. These are tools designed for you to take back to your board. You will not only benefit directly if you are taking this session as a solo board meber who wants to get both the big picture, but the frame that its in as well.

Time is reserved in each 90-minute session for "Table Talk," a confidential agreement space for Q/A and peer consultation on the topic of governance. Application of the exercises, instruction clarification, cases, guests and your questions will shape these open floor sessions, (45-60 Minutes).

Governance Review

In this lesson, we focus on the importance of governance review for boards. Governance review involves evaluating the board's structure, practices, and performance to ensure effectiveness and alignment with the organization's mission and goals.

Key points include:

• Governance review evaluates board structure, practices, and performance.
• It helps identify areas of improvement and ensure alignment with mission and goals.
• Board members assess roles, decision-making processes, communication strategies, and policies.

During the session, we will introduce two tools to enhance your governance profile and foster ethical seriousness in board service. The lesson emphasizes the need for boards to address both short and long-term priorities while creating principles, practices, and policies to fulfill the organization's deep purposes. Social impact organizations aim to make a transformational impact on lives; thus, effective governance is vital. Additional points to consider:

• Assessment tools such as Board Capacity Building Assessment, Annual Calendar, and Annual Affirmation Agreement.
• Opportunity to assess your board's readiness in establishing policy, direction, resource pathways, and accountability.

Program Expectation | Throughout the 90-minute session, Dr. West will faciliate opportunities for "Table Talk," allowing confidential Q/A and peer consultation on governance. The interactive nature of the session includes exercises, case studies, guest speakers, as well as time for questions and discussions.

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, the focus is on the importance of governance review for boards. Governance review is a process that evaluates the board's structure, practices, and performance, ensuring effectiveness and alignment with the organization's mission and goals. Key points to note include:

• Governance review evaluates board structure, practices, and performance.
• It helps identify areas of improvement and ensure alignment with mission and goals.
• Board members assess roles, decision-making processes, communication strategies, and policies.

During the session, two tools will be introduced to enhance governance profiles and promote ethical seriousness in board service. Emphasis is placed on addressing short and long-term priorities while developing principles, practices, and policies to fulfill the organization's deep purposes, especially for social impact organizations striving to make transformational impacts. Additional aspects covered in the lesson:

• Assessment tools including Board Capacity Building Assessment, Annual Calendar, and Annual Affirmation Agreement.
• Opportunity to evaluate the board's readiness in setting policy, direction, resource pathways, and accountability.

Throughout the 90-minute session, Dr. West will facilitate "Table Talk" for confidential Q/A and peer consultation on governance. The interactive nature of the session will include exercises, case studies, guest speakers, and ample time for questions and discussions.

THE CULTURALLY CONSCIOUS BOARD

BOARD DEPTH SERIES

Board Capacity Audit: Know Their Gifts & Gaps. CulturallyConsciousBoard.com