Since 2017, NFRC has benefited from the expertise and guidance of Lisa Anne Taylor and her colleagues. What started as a simple request for information about board governance best practices has evolved into an ongoing partnership with Lisa Anne and her team members Elliott, Linda, Michelle, Chris and Michael. Board Veritas has been instrumental in assisting me, as CEO, with board education/development, an examination of board functioning which resulted in a revamping of our board composition, and the very hands-on training of our volunteer leadership – extending from our board chair down to NFRC members.
Board Veritas provided the framework for our 5 year strategic plan. Lisa and her team facilitated working sessions with our board and senior staff, and assisted with moving the plan from theory and into practice. Lisa Anne is adept at providing a compelling case for good governance practices – which many non-profit boards find easy to ignore in a climate of competition and emergent issues. I found that bringing my board back to the concept of good governance actually equipped them with the know-how to tackle the big issues. Vision and strategy are fundamental expectations of any well functioning board, and NFRC’s has benefited mightily by the training received from Board Veritas.
GOVERNANCE AUDIT:
More comprehensive, longer-term engagement, of immense value to larger organizations.
↓ See below.
GOVERNANCE REVIEW:
More elementary, shorter-term engagement, pragmatic for smaller organizations.
→ Go to GOVERNANCE REVIEW
What is a Governance Audit?
Simply stated, a Governance Audit is a comprehensive assessment of your organization’s operational effectiveness, accompanied by a documentation of findings and recommendations. More specifically, it involves the quality of your leadership – the board, and a diagnostic review of key governance practices, policies, relationships, and communications. Through a relationship between Board Veritas and an expert legal counsel, the Veritas Report offers confirmation of critical elements of governance structures or processes that are effective and identification of these that need to be addressed.
Why Have an Audit?
How a Governance Audit Works
Our proprietary Governance Audit process is both proven and unparalleled in the industry. It happens in two phases:
Clients who engage BOARD VERITAS for a Governance Audit often retain us for Training & Coaching as well. We can assist the organization hands-on in the implementation of any recommended strategies and best practices.
Who needs a Governance Audit?
Any organization that has existed for 5+ years, has achieved a reasonable degree of stability, and / or has reached $1M+ annual budget is best suited for Governance Auditing. For such organizations, we recommend that an audit be completed every 3 years.
What is a Governance Review?
A Governance Review is a more synoptic assessment of your organization, similar to a checkup or inspection. Results of a review might include a gap analysis, benchmarking, and recommended steps to achieve their objectives. It is often complemented with Training & Coaching, wherein BOARD VERITAS helps the organization competently move toward their goals.
A Governance Review is a great tool for smaller organizations who are:
A common scenario in which a Governance Review is ideal is one where a board consists largely of new, young, or first-time board members. Combined with training, the review can be used to educate the board members about how to be better directors. We can also help acclimate them to their roles and responsibilities.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with the Board Veritas team on several client engagements, and there are few people I would extend the professional trust I have in Lisa Anne. They are dynamic and highly versed in all matters board and governance; a great value-add and partner to my practice. I highly recommend Board Veritas for any organization needing a governance review or a strategic overhaul. Expertise, combined with wit and honesty makes her and her team a wonderful resource.
The Myositis Association worked with Lisa to create a comprehensive 3-year strategic plan. Lisa was integral to our success of going from a one page plan with no specific goals or metrics, to achieving quantitative and qualitative measurable strategic outcomes that our organization measures quarterly. Throughout the development process and Board strategic planning retreat, Lisa shared her expertise and unique ability to resolve complex issues and address problem-solving head-on, with her innovative and creative thinking that yielded bottom line results.
In addition to working with our Board, Lisa successfully worked with our organization leadership and staff working across organizational lines to bring people together and bring significant projects to fruition. She articulates a clear vision and has a disciplined and organized approach to keep projects moving forward through many obstacles. She is responsive, prepared and ready to make progress at every juncture. Lisa's guidance and encouragement have been instrumental in our growth at TMA. She is a trusted professional, mentor and leader!
When I served as CEO of WomenHeart, Lisa also worked with the Board and organization to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for an organization representing the leading cause of death of women. Lisa provided training for the Board on leadership, Board and CEO duties and responsibilities and other Board leadership training. She does an outstanding job of ensuring engagement from all individuals in the process and holds Boards and staff accountable for their responsibilities. This tough love to her approach working with non-profit patients groups is the very seed that is needed for healthy new growth! It is my honor to give Lisa the highest recommendation possible for working with non-profit organizations based on over a decade of working with her!
It was engaging and productive to work with Board Veritas. Lisa Anne and Chris were challenging with an eye towards success for myself and the Coalition. Their energy and questions helped drive my thinking but also allowed them to combine expertise to develop a tool that the Coalition needed. I enjoyed their professionalism, positive energy and keen intellect.
Lisa Anne gave a talk at a special dinner meeting of a group of high energy leaders -- and she absolutely captivated them! Throughout the talk she provided knowledge and insight that these leaders are already implementing to achieve improved board governance and engagement. It was only 30 minutes and she maximized the entire time and completely packed in useful nuggets of wisdom that was applicable across the very diverse life cycles of the organizations represented in the room.
You can't imagine the peace to the soul our conversations have. The logic-refined thought you offer allows the mind to focus on the essence of why we are here and passionate about things.
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