Season 5 | Episode 7


“There is no more important relationship than the relationship between the executive and the board of directors in terms of the long-term culture, efficacy, sustainability of an organization.”

– Jonathan Zeichner

“What ED's is an ability to put the ego aside and to really be able to listen to other people's needs and that other people might see things really differently, and not be so rigid that criticism breaks you, but that it builds you.”

– Amy Friedman


This episode is all about boards! Matt talks all things board-related with two experts, Jonathan Zeichner and Amy Friedman. All three of the voices on this episode have served as founders, executive directors, board members, and in the case of Matt and Jonathan: consultants. They have seen and experienced “the big board picture” from all angles and perspectives. They know, firsthand, the good, the bad, and yes: the ugly.

The three share stories from personal experience as well as answer questions from listeners looking to learn more about how to navigate the sometimes rough terrain of board culture. Matt and Jonathan also talk about Envision Consulting’s newest project: “Board Builders,” a subscription service that is a literal “one-stop shop” for all your board service needs, from finding board members, to onboarding and mentoring both them and the staff that supports them.


 

CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHT:

Matt:
Well, I so appreciate that. By the way, being rich off of a nonprofit, my first TD job, my salary was a whole 55, 000 a year and I loved every single minute of it. So, all right. Is there anything else the two of you would like to leave with our listener? Before we let you go.


Jonathan:
Well, I think the thing I would do is, is go back and talk a little bit about this initiative that Envision has created. And I've had the good fortune to be able to collaborate with your staff, Matt, on putting this together.


I really do think that boards can do better. And I think that there are some ways across the board to raise the bar, and then there are idiosyncratic and individual ways that each organization needs support. And I'm really excited about this initiative, and I hope that people will take advantage of it.


It's a subscription service. There are different levels, so depending on the budget of your organization, you can get involved and participate and find a way to afford it. And we're also looking for, uh, funders to start underwriting this opportunity for nonprofits who would have trouble paying for the subscription.


And we're going to learn a lot along the way. It's not done. It's a work in progress. And so that's what I would leave this with is just a little bit of an invitation and a sales pitch for folks who are listening to check it out. You know, you can go online and look for boardbuilders.net. Or causecoaching.net they'll lead you to the same website and, uh, just see what it's about and be in touch if you have questions, I think building the community of leaders in nonprofit as part of the process that we're doing with the round tables and so on, and I'd love to see more people get involved. So that's my parting shot on, on that.


And thank you. It's been fun. And Amy, it's been great to see you and see where you are now because it was a traumatic experience and nobody deserves, uh, to be treated the way you were treated, period.

Amy:
So thank you. And I want to say, I can't wait to learn more about BoardBuilders. I really honor both of you for this work you're doing.

I'm excited to learn more about it and love that you, Matt, created a forum for being able to be open about all the shitty things that can happen. What I've found most interesting is how a lot of people in the nonprofit world have not wanted to hear from me. Because hearing a trauma story just feels bad.


So when Jonathan asked me if I'd be willing to be on here, I was delighted. And I think it's very brave and wise of you to have a forum like this. Talk about transparency, right? It's important.

LINKS:
Desperado’s Wife: A Memoir by Amy Friedman

When Ivy League-educated newspaper columnist Amy Friedman walked into a prison to write about life inside, she never expected to fall in love with, and marry, a man serving time for murder. But
that's what happened. Desperado's Wife tells the story of their seven-year marriage and what happens to those who love someone inside.

BoardBuilders