Giving Compass' Take:

• Kris Putnam Walkerly, writing for Forbes, explains why it is vital for foundation board members to ask the CEO questions that help orient everyone toward the bigger picture and mission. 

• How can board members strengthen their relationships with foundation CEOs and vice versa?

• Read the Giving Compass Boards and Leadership Magazine for more information provided by BoardSource. 

Serving on the board of a philanthropic foundation isn’t just about approving grants. It’s about being a good steward of resources and sharing responsibility for the foundation’s impact. Too often the focus tends to be on board meeting preparation and the efficiency of these meetings. Take a moment to break from the routine and consider asking your foundation CEO these questions to help the organization focus on the big picture.

  1. How does this fit within our strategy? Asking “why” is not implying that an idea is bad — it’s getting to the substance of why your foundation must specifically be involved in this work. How does it fundamentally help meet your mission?
  2. What’s our progress on our strategic plan? When was the last time you looked at your foundation’s strategic plan? Do you know how to locate it? If your answers to those two questions are “I don’t know” and “Nope,” then you need to talk with your CEO.
  3. How much time do staff spend preparing for board meetings and what does that cost? I have worked with foundations on projects that absolutely stalled because of an upcoming board meeting. Staff members will say they’re not available for three weeks because they’re preparing.
  4. What can we do to reduce the cycle time of grantmaking? In today’s constantly changing environment, it’s becoming even more important for funders to be nimble and responsive.
  5. Are we taking enough risks? Foundations need to be comfortable with risk. This doesn’t mean to forgo due diligence, but it does mean a recognition that not all investments will have the expected result.
  6. How can we be more helpful to you? One of the best ways to find out how to support your CEO is to simply ask. Foundation CEOs are often trying to make it easy on the board and hesitate to let them know anything is wrong.

Read the full article about foundation board members by Kris Putnam-Walkerly at Forbes