Services for NonProfits

Board Assessments

The evaluation process utilizes a research-proven set of factors as the assessment basis. The tool is highly effective in focusing the board on its priorities, determining weak board members, and providing a key reference to help with recruiting the best suited board members to move the organization forward.

Linder and Associates can help the CEO and the CVO (Chief Volunteer Officer) determine the strengths and weaknesses of the board as a whole and individually, through a research-based Board Assessment Process.

Linder & Associates provides a very meaningful and objective method to evaluate board members individually and the board as a whole.  The evaluation process utilizes a research-based set of factors as the assessment basis.  The tool is highly effective in focusing the board on its priorities, determining weak board members, and providing a key reference to help with recruiting the best suited board members to move the organization forward.

The process generally involves the CEO, CVO, the incoming CVO, and one other top performing board member.  The committee determines priority of a group of research-derived factors that drive the organization.

“One of the important contributions a governance committee (GC) adds to an organization is their regular evaluation of your board and individual members.

One tool in that (our) assessment process employs a rating system to assess each board member’s contribution. This rating program identifies how each member contributes to the board as a collective entity based on extensive research. With this well-researched rating system, the work of assessment helps identify new members who fill gaps in the board’s deficits and help achieve its goals and strategic plans.

Many articles and books are written that purport to describe how to assess board performance in a nonprofit. There are an abundance of worksheets and assessment tools promising to measure everything from board demographics to skills, to SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats), and individual personalities. Diversity is also frequently measured, but it is too often viewed through the lens of quotas or community representation…”

“It’s All About the Board, Taking Your Nonprofit to the Next Level” by Doug Linder

Board Development

 “A good working definition for Board Development is: A systematic and deliberative process to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the board over time…” We provide recommendations which will create a stronger, more efficient board, and provide best practices to help improve or deepen the partnership with the CEO.

The Board of Directors (or Board of Trustees) is the most important segment of any nonprofit.   We provide recommendations which will create a stronger, more efficient board, and provide best practices to help improve or deepen the partnership with the CEO.  Tools can include; by-laws review and recommendations, board of director, committee, and officer job descriptions, board expectations, board solicitation, board recruitment assistance, board assessment, recommendations for a Governance Committee- the most important committee of a nonprofit, and more.

“A proactive development plan anticipates the board will be forward thinking, with a priority on emphasizing efficiency and effectiveness. There are multiple features to this type of proactive board improvement plan: a strong, functional governance committee, intentional recruiting, new member orientation, both individual member and collective board evaluation, board building, expectations, education, and training to name a few. The plan originates from the desks of two people who lead the organization, their CEO and CVO. These plans must be aggressively implemented and demonstrate these officers’ personal commitment to improving the organization.”

“It’s All About the Board, Taking Your Nonprofit to the Next Level” by Doug Linder

Fundraising

Nonprofit fundraising is a function of the partnership between board and staff. However, for fundraising to be successful, the board must give personally and be involved in solicitation in concert with the staff. Linder and Associates can provide guidance to improve board engagement in fundraising and help both board and staff view raising funds as a team effort. 

A nonprofit that does not take advantage of being able to fundraise is missing many opportunities not the least of which are; developing a more cohesive board and staff, marketing the mission of the organization, and enhancing esprit de corps.

“The board of directors of every nonprofit has 10 responsibilities…

Every nonprofit needs to raise funds. It is the right of every qualified nonprofit to do so, and while most use these funds to sustain their programs and achieve their mission, there are other very good reasons to fundraise. There are at least five key benefits beyond the obvious.

… Every board of directors will engage in fundraising. While some boards at large or prominent not-for-profits have donors who write big checks, much is lost if members of the board are not expected to solicit funds.

When board members engage in the organization’s special events and meet with major donors, they become true advocates for their organization’s cause.”

“It’s All About the Board, Taking Your Nonprofit to the Next Level” by Doug Linder

Earned Revenue

Many organizations have earned revenue, many more desire to have these avenues available to them. With 25 years of experience leading nonprofits with substantial earned revenue, Doug Linder brings a strong understanding of how to go about creating programs and partnerships that can create/improve both taxable and nontaxable revenue as well as help in developing social enterprise.

Nonprofit organizations that develop earned revenue sources have a number of advantages.  They have a chance to draw the clients they serve closer to the organization, by helping the clients and developing relationships.  Earned revenue, developed with sound budgeting proficiency can and do add to the bottom line.  Earned revenue usually requires more staff allowing for more points of contact with constituents/clients and the community.  In many cases, earned revenue helps the nonprofit achieve its mission. 

Start Up Consulting

Planning a new nonprofit? Let Linder and Associates assist. We will provide
a firm foundation and structure so the organization can get started on the right track.  

Many people have great passions to make our community and our world better, and from that passion, they decide to create a nonprofit.  Some seek advice from attorneys and others from business consultants, but a nonprofit is a unique category of business.  To start with the knowledge and advice from Linder & Associates will help ensure a firm understanding of what need to be done and the implementation of best practices.  Bylaws, Articles of Incorporations, policies, board recruitment, committees, staff and board organization are some of the key elements of the foundation we will assist in developing.

Non-Profit Turnarounds

Many nonprofits are distressed in these days of economic uncertainty. Linder and Associates has experience stabilizing finances, lowering expenses, increasing revenue, improving local image, and increasing participation. We will review all areas of operations and make recommendations that will help bring financial stability back into your organization.

We have a complete understanding of how a nonprofit works optimally, and we are able to analyze and diagnose where many problems lie within the organization.  From revenue and expenses, programing, and staffing to board meetings, structure, and engagement, we will analyze, apply our expertise, and provide solutions.

“Doug Linder, Principal of Linder and Associates has extensive knowledge and experience turning around nonprofit organizations.  During his professional career he lead staff and board teams that turned around 4 organizations.  As a consultant, he has assisted organization leadership to provide solutions to the challenges his clients faced.  Whether acting as the Interim Executive or consulting with board/current executive, Doug can help diagnose the problem(s), analyze the situations, propose recommendations, and help with implementation.“

“It’s All About the Board, Taking Your Nonprofit to the Next Level” by Doug Linder

Strategic Planning

Planning for the future is vital to a nonprofit’s success. Linder and Associates can assist the board and staff in creating a strategic plan that will not sit on the shelf, but one that will be referred to regularly including updates to the board.  (Learn More)

Nonprofit leadership must stay focused on the future.  Strategic planning and follow-up reporting is essential for the board and staff to participate in.  Linder & Associates can help with 3-5 year plans, a process to keep the plan on a front burner, and a system to add updates in this changing world.  If your organization is hiring a new CEO, it is sort of like trying to catch a bus that is moving.  We can also help with a short term goal setting strategy system to help the board communicate their priorities to the new leader for the first six -8 months.

We start the planning by asking a number of questions. Here are a few:  What are we achieving?  Are we worthy of philanthropic support?  Why?  Are we meeting our mission?  Planning sessions can be schedule for a full day, 8-10 hours or two days.  We will provide a training experience that won’t sit on the shelf!

Organizational Development

Many times nonprofit organizations have areas missing in their structure and/or operations.  These can be issues that were created at the founding of the company or ones that evolved over time.  Linder and Associates will review all aspects of the agency, analyze the situation, and provide solutions. 

We can review many areas including, staff and board structure, bylaws, job descriptions (for board and staff), and policies, and make recommendations for changes.  We give recommendations for systems to be put into place as well as best practices to implement that will facilitate efficiency and coordination among staff.

Consulting Sessions

Consulting with the board of directors the CEO/Executive Director can be a very efficient way to help improve the organization’s efficiency. After a meeting or possibly two to determine the best ways to help, we can provide in person or online consulting and/or coaching services.

Based on our initial meetings with the organization’s leadership we will analyze the challenges, and utilizing our expertise, develop a proposal to provide consulting service to the board leaders and or the CEO/Executive Director.    We can also be used as an accountability partner if desired.  The plan for each nonprofit is custom made.  Discussions will be confidential.

CEO Coach

Linder and Associates can coach a new or inexperienced CEO. Utilizing our experience and expertise and the resources we have, we can provide valuable assistance to the leader as he/she copes with the challenges they face.

A seasoned nonprofit veteran can be challenged in today’s world.  We can certainly be of assistance with this type of nonprofit professional.  However, the new and/or inexperienced staff leader will benefit greatly from our expertise in facing challenges and taking the organization to the next level.

Interim CEO Part/Full Time & Candidate Selection

Linder and Associates will fill a part time or full time temporary role as the CEO/Executive Director. With 35 years of leadership experience, we will keep the organization going as is, recommend changes, or provide the expertise to make a major overhaul to prepare for the incumbent’s arrival.  

Utilizing an interim CEO or Executive Director can be an advantageous strategy for nonprofits in transition.  Nonprofit organizations can find themselves in transition for a number of reasons; the involuntary departure the current CEO, the organizations’ founder is retiring, for a number of reasons, the organization is without a leader and finds itself in disarray with a number of challenges, the board wants to take time to find the right fit, and many other reasons.  An interim leader with the right tools can make recommendations to right the ship, maintain the course until the right person is found, and/or act in a leader/consultant role, giving the board recommendations to improve the organization so the new leader comes into an efficiently operating organization.

Linder and Associates can also assist with filling the position by helping determine and interviewing potential candidates.