Can governance work be done without disrupting the board?

Yes. Most engagements begin with a light-touch review and confidential conversations, and progress at a pace the board sets. Nothing is imposed.

Do you facilitate board retreats on their own?

Yes. A single well-designed retreat is often the right starting point, particularly around role clarity, recruitment, or preparing for a campaign.

How do you handle tension between the board and the executive?

Candidly and without taking sides. Both parties are heard separately, shared expectations are put in writing, and the relationship is rebuilt around agreed protocols.

Service

Governance & Board Effectiveness

A board that knows its role, does its work, and strengthens the executive.

Back to the 360 service map View investment guidance

Who this helps

Leaders responsible for a consequential organizational decision.

Boards of nature centers, land trusts, conservation groups, and environmental education institutions
Boards of health and human services nonprofits and community-based providers
Foundation, advisory, and multi-program agency boards
Executive directors and CEOs seeking a stronger governance partner

What we will accomplish

Governance assessment, board development, and facilitation that clarify roles, sharpen committee structure, and strengthen the board–executive partnership.

Shared clarity on what the board governs and what the executive manages
Meetings focused on strategy, oversight, and generative discussion
A committee structure sized to the work rather than to tradition
A recruitment pipeline built from an honest matrix of skills and perspectives
Stronger, more candid board–executive partnership
Current, coherent bylaws and governance policies

Four nonprofit board leaders discussing documents around a conference table.

How we work

Understand. Reveal. Choose. Build. Learn.

The same plain, five-stage method guides every service. The depth of evidence and participation is sized to your assignment.

01
Understand
Gather the evidence and perspectives needed to see the situation accurately.
02
Reveal
Make strengths, constraints, differing perspectives, and underlying causes clear.
03
Choose
Frame the real options, tradeoffs, priorities, and decisions.
04
Build
Create the substantial working document or roadmap, with responsibilities, resources, measures, and first actions.
05
Learn
Review implementation, test assumptions, and adjust while staying grounded in the mission.

Depending on your priorities, your engagement may include

The written proposal specifies the exact deliverables, timing, participation, and fixed fee for your assignment.

Governance assessment: structure, practice, culture, and documents
Board and committee role descriptions and expectations
Board composition matrix and recruitment strategy
Onboarding and orientation materials for new trustees
Bylaws and policy review with recommended revisions
Board retreat design and facilitation
Annual board self-assessment framework
Board–executive partnership protocols and evaluation practice

One focused assignment example

A focused assignment might review board and committee roles, facilitate one working session, and produce an updated annual governance plan.

Timing and your participation

Timing depends on board participation, document review, and whether a retreat is included.

Participation is agreed at the outset. It may include the executive director, board chair, senior staff, trustees, and selected stakeholders whose perspective can materially improve the work.

Organizations often reach out when

Meetings drift into operations or run without clear decisions
The board is uncertain how to evaluate or support the executive
Recruitment has become ad hoc and the board lacks needed perspectives
Founding or long-tenured trustees are transitioning off
Bylaws or policies have not been reviewed in years

Investment and payment

Beginning at $12,500

Focused Consulting Engagement

Every service can begin as a Focused Consulting Engagement at $12,500, with a defined assignment, deliverables, timing, and fixed fee established in the written proposal. Broader work may be structured as an Organizational Strength Review or Integrated Strategic Direction when the need spans multiple areas.

Every assignment considers connections across the whole organization. Detailed work stays focused on the areas agreed in scope. Range drivers include interviews, board participation, sites, and specialist responsibilities. Travel or specialist expenses are included only when agreed in the proposal.

For larger engagements, the standard schedule is 40% on booking, 30% after the evidence and listening stage, and 30% on delivery. The final schedule is stated in the written proposal.

Major fixed-fee engagements include eight hours of implementation counsel during the 90 days following delivery.

Questions

Before you decide

IN SIGHT · A free weekly email

Free practical ideas on leadership, strategy, and strengthening mission-driven organizations.

Start a conversation

Bring the decision in front of you.

A complimentary 30-minute conversation helps establish the situation, fit, and a sensible next step. Detailed analysis and written recommendations begin with a paid engagement. Every engagement is principal-led; appropriate collaborators are added when the scope calls for specialist expertise.

Schedule a 30-Minute Conversation

Back to the 360 service map