In the news: Nonprofit leaders gather for board training through United Fund of Globe-Miami, ASU partnership
Beginning in January of this year, United Fund began sponsoring workshops in partnership with ASU’s Lodestar Center. Designed as a three-part series which include three quarterly sessions over the next two years, the classes are intended to directly support and strengthen the nonprofits that receive funding through United Fund. The workshops are the result of a partnership between United Fund, ASU Lodestar, the City of Globe, and Freeport-McMoRan, with a simple guiding principle: stronger organizations create a stronger community.
Capacity for each workshop is approximately 31 participants, representing the 26 United Fund agencies along with five additional invite-only organizations. With near-capacity attendance for the morning sessions, workshops are offered at two different times throughout the day to ensure all agencies have the opportunity to participate. For the Monday, February 23 session, workshops were held from 9 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 4 p.m., with meals, swag, and prizes provided.
The workshop centered on Board Basics and Resource Development and was led by experienced facilitator John Scola. Topics were introduced and expanded upon through collaborative discussion with an engaged audience. Rather than relying heavily on slides, Scola kept his presentation brief and focused on interaction, encouraging attendees to reflect on how the boards they serve—or lead—currently function. He opened the discussion with a central food-for-though takeaway: “I want to be the board member I wish I had.”
Drawing from real-life experience and examples shared by participants, key topics included establishing term limits, asking for annual recommitments—particularly when members appear ready to step away—identifying and recruiting strong board members, and determining when retreats or semiannual goal-reflection meetings are more effective than routine business meetings.
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