News & Insights

You may stumble onto a good, or even great, board chair by luck, but it’s not likely.

 

Schools and other nonprofits typically get the chairs they have “grown” -- board leaders who have been nurtured with the chair role in mind. But when there is no advance development, schools tend to get board chairs who are unprepared, untested, and weak. These are often talented people who could have been excellent chairs but find the role frustrating and the work unsatisfying. Sometimes they depart with hurt or puzzled feelings about a disappointing tenure.

Whatever your current situation, it’s time to start developing your next great board chair. To get you started, you may want to utilize “Succession Planning for the Board Chair Position,” a succinct resource available from BoardSource for institutions that want to develop board chairs now and in the future. The resource is available online to BoardSource members and provides information on:

  • Identifying key leadership skills
  • Clarifying key duties
  • Planning the succession process
  • Mentoring the chair-to-be

For more information on board chair succession planning, contact us at resources@intrust.org.

And let us know if your board has recently gone through a board chair transition. What were the triumphs and opportunities that arose in the transition process? What lessons did you learn to inform future chair successions? 

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Upcoming Events

The In Trust Center hosts learning community spaces throughout the year. Check out our upcoming events below.

Conflict + Crisis: Navigating the Shoals, Part 2 – A Deeper Dive

Thursday, February 15, 2024, 1:00 p.m. (ET)

Presenter Donna Alexander, President & CEO of Advoxum Global Strategies, offers best practices for navigating conflict and crisis. She examines the crucial elements of defining conflict and crisis, identifying, and prioritizing affected stakeholders, utilizing effective communication strategies, and ultimately, executing a plan of action. Click here to register.

In Trust Center Resource Grants

FEBRUARY 22, 2024, 1 PM (ET)

An In Trust Center Resource Grant offers member schools a chance to explore innovation at their institutions through a matching grant opportunity of up to $15,000. Join us for this 30-minute information session, including Q&A, as we provide details on eligibility requirements, funding priorities, application process. Previous grantees are eligible to apply as long as they are not within our current funding cycle. Click to register.

Conflict + Crisis: Navigating the Shoals, Part 1

ON DEMAND

Presenter Donna Alexander, President & CEO of Advoxum Global Strategies, offers best practices for navigating conflict and crisis. She examines the crucial elements of defining conflict and crisis, identifying, and prioritizing affected stakeholders, utilizing effective communication strategies, and ultimately, executing a plan of action.

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In Trust Center provides Resource Consulting to our members at no charge. Contact us today and let us guide you to the most helpful resources for your situation.

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