Keys to Board Engagement

As board members for your community action agency, you serve as ambassadors, advocates, strategists, and all-around supporters for the work of the organization. In order to be all of those things, it is vitally important to be engaged, not only during board meetings, but also in the time between sessions. A few ways you can help foster engagement and get more involved:

Understanding Your Role as a

Tripartate Community Action Board Member

The requirement for CAAs to have tripartite governing boards in order to gain/retain designation as eligible entities to receive CSBG funding began in 1968. Boards are responsible for assuring that agencies continue to assess and respond to the causes and conditions of poverty, achieve anticipated family and community outcomes, and remain administratively and fiscally sound. Sections 676B of the Community Services Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 1998 requires that private nonprofit entities and public organizations administer their CSBG program through tripartite boards that "fully participate in the development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the program to serve low-income communities."

Many of the concepts and directives in IM 82 are reflected in the CSBG Organizational

Standards, which require the tripartite board to be involved in matters such as:

• Reviewing the CAA’s mission statement
• Participating in strategic planning and the community needs assessment
• Receiving strategic, organizational, and programmatic updates
• Receiving financial and audit reportt
• Participating in the agency budget process

10 Ways to Engage Your Board in Fundraising

One of the greatest challenges for community action agencies is, of course, finding additional funding resources. As board members, your role is key to providing much-needed fundraising support to the organization. Here are 10 ways to engage your board in fundraising.

1. Know what you want and need from your board members.
2. Recruit with a plan and have clear expectations.
3. Understand the strengths and interests of each of your board members.
4. Be clear about what fundraising actually means.
5. Keep fundraising front and center at every board meeting.
6. Create opportunities for each board member to experience the mission personally
7. Teach your trustees how to tell your story, and make them practice regularly.
8. Start slow and build to more challenging projects.
9. Don’t wait for your board to initiate action.
10. Thank each trustee warmly, profusely and genuinely. 

Source: Nonprofit Leadership Center