Giving Compass' Take:

• Kris Putnam-Walkerly outlines eight common mistakes that new foundation leaders and board members make, and how to avoid them to maximize early and long-term success. 

• How can board members best support each other? 

• Find out why new foundations may want to plan to spend down. 

To help educate and guide new foundation leaders and board members toward early and lasting success, I have compiled a list of eight common mistakes new foundation boards often make — and how to avoid them.

  1. They make the simple complex: For any foundation practice or process — from how you make grants to how staff prepare for a board meeting — ask yourself, “Is this approach really going to provide benefit for our operation? What is the simplest way we can accomplish our objectives?”
  2. They manage instead of govern: Remember, the role of a board is to govern — to clarify the mission and vision, set strategic direction, set policy and provide financial stewardship.
  3. They operate with a poverty mentality: Foundations with an abundance mentality understand that dollars and time invested in training, technology, creativity, capacity, relationship building and professional development make their operations more efficient, intelligent and effective for the communities they serve.
  4. They fail to learn: There are many ways available to learn as a board member: conferences, trainings, reading, conversations and consultations with experts. All you need to do is be willing to invest your time and attention.
  5. They misunderstand the power dynamic: A very real power dynamic exists between a foundation and the nonprofit community it serves. For board members, that position of power means that people are inclined to be deferential to your opinion, even if they disagree. As a board, you must examine ideas — especially your own — from every angle.
  6. They let it go to their head: Arrogance, bossiness or condescension on the part of a board member can have devastating effects on relationships between the foundation and nonprofits.
  7. They fail to seek community input: No matter where your board comes from, there are always people in your community who know much more about issues such as teen pregnancy, substance abuse, mental health and violence than you do.
  8. They fail to hold each other accountable: A board is designed to ensure that the will of one does not outweigh the overall judgment of the whole group. However, politeness and decorum often prevent board members from addressing conflict in constructive ways.

Read the full article about 8 mistakes to avoid by Kris Putnam-Walkerly at Forbes.