245: What's the Boards Role‪?‬ Inspired Nonprofit Leadership

In this episode nonprofit board expert Mike Burns dives deep into the purpose, challenges, and innovative practices concerning nonprofit boards! Our discussion critiques conventional wisdom around board responsibilities, such as budget approval and the potential benefits of rethinking board members' roles for greater organizational impact. 
 
My guest for this episode is Michael (Mike) Burns, Partner, BWB Solutions. Mike began his career as an executive director of a community health center, followed by 15 years as an executive director and primary consultant for a nonprofit capacity building organization. During this time, he was also an associate professor of management at the Antioch-New England Graduate Schools of Organization and Management and Environmental Studies. Since 2017, Mike has been Adjunct Faculty in University of New Haven’s Nonprofit Management Certificate Program and Professor of Marketing Strategy. In 1994, Mike joined BWB Solutions. His practice focuses on strategic and revenue generating planning, nonprofit governance, and helping nonprofits assess their readiness for mergers and partnerships. He regularly posts to his blog, Nonprofit Board Crisis, where he focuses on nonprofit governance issues. As part of a research team he completed a national survey on the roles and relationships of nonprofit board chairs. In addition to his professional work as an organizational development and planning consultant, Mike operates an organic farm growing asparagus, raspberries, garlic, strawberries and tomatoes. Mike has been a professional foster parent for over 25 years. Mike graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Marquette University and completed a master’s degree in nonprofit management with a focus on governance at Lesley College. He also holds a graduate certificate in nonprofit marketing management from the University of Hartford.
 
In this episode you’ll find:
The Role and Purpose of Nonprofit Boards
A Critique on Conventional Wisdom Around Board Responsibilities
The Executive Director and Board Relationship
Strategic Planning and Accountability in Nonprofits
The Impact of Boards on Nonprofit Organizations
Innovative Practices and the Future of Board Governance
 
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Connect with Mike:
Web: www.bwbsolutions.com 
Blog: https://nonprofitboardcrisis.typepad.com 
To follow: https://twitter.com/nonprofitcrisis 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bwbsolutionsllc/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-burns-0ab61/
 
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Connect with Sarah!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-olivieri/
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxB2J-XcixGeGaZvcu_cVxA