Building Purpose-Driven Boards for Today AND Tomorrow

Do you struggle with board engagement? Are your board volunteers helpful but not always investing energy in what the organization needs most? Perhaps you have an highly-functioning board but you want to know what else is possible from here. 

Join us for a half-day workshop focused on how to move your board to the next level. In this generative, engaging session, we will learn strategies to increase board engagement, how to use limited meeting time effectively, and how to ensure that your board is preparing for what it needs to be in the future. 

Intended Audience: staff leaders, board leaders, and board members. Teams are encouraged to attend together. 

Presenters:

Kellie Wardman, Senior Consultant, DBD Group
Diane Fitzpatrick, CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Manchester
Mike St. Onge, Board Chair, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Manchester

The demands on our organizations are greater than ever. Staff are working with fewer resources, there is greater competition for fundraising dollars, and volunteers’ time is becoming more limited. How do we ensure that we design intentional and meaningful governance work so the board can have its greatest impact possible? 

Hear from local New Hampshire nonprofit leaders who have done some great work to transform their board. We will explore practical ways to leverage the powerful principles of purpose-driven board leadership to help boards evolve how they see themselves and their work. We will also share powerful stories about other leaders who have risen to meet the practical and ethical mandates facing their organizations. The session will better equip board members and staff leaders to advance the amazing organizations that you serve. 

Session outcomes include: 

• Learn strategies for growing board engagement, maximizing meeting time, and hearing from all voices in the room
• Ensure that your board meets legal and fiduciary duties for fiscal oversight
• Explore tools for how to make challenging decisions as a board when there are differing opinions
• Learn ways to focus your board on growing a culture of philanthropy and being part of successful fundraising and resource development
• Dive into the four fundamental principles of purpose-driven boards, including how to put purpose first; respecting the overall ecosystem in which your organization operates; deepening your equity mindset; and ensuring your board’s power is authorized by those you serve.

About the Presenters

Kellie Wardman, PCC, ACTC, is a senior consultant and certified coach with over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She worked for 10 years at The Granite YMCA in operations and as COO. Kellie also served as a resource director for the YMCA of the USA and the Northern New England YMCA Alliance supporting all Ys in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. For the last five years, she has worked with DBD Group, supporting non-profits across the country focusing on strategic planning, board development, staff and culture work, executive coaching, fundraising, and more. Kellie lives in Dunbarton.

Diane Fitzpatrick is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club in Manchester. Her crucial role at the Club is creating, communicating, implementing, and sustaining strategic initiatives. Diane has over 30 years of experience in higher education, marketing, and business-to-business development. Before her position at the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, Diane was the Dean of Admission at New England College. Diane is a dynamic leader who effectively and successfully managed the demands of a goal-oriented, high-pressure management team while facilitating various business-to-business relationships. Diane was named Excellence in Small Business in Nonprofit and NH 200 Most Influential Business Leaders. 

Michael St. Onge, CIMA®, CPWA®, is a Senior Vice President and Private Client Relationship Manager at NHTrust, bringing over 25 years of expertise in wealth and investment management. With a strong background in guiding high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and non-profits, Michael specializes in creating tailored financial strategies that align with clients' unique objectives. He currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester and is a Finance Committee member for the Castle Preservation Society (Castle in the Clouds.) His extensive volunteer experience and leadership on these boards have equipped him with unique insights into building focused, purpose-driven boards for non-profits, ensuring strategic growth and financial sustainability.