Board governance is the process of making sure the organization delivers on its mission, acquires sufficient resources to sustain that mission, and uses those resources wisely. Finances play a major role in giving the board confidence that it can sustain its mission through thick and thin. But finances are not an end in themselves-they are simply the means to an end. Imagine your organization is an automobile and you are the driver. Mission and community need represent the steering wheel, determining the path the organization will take. Finance represents the brake and accelerator pedals, determining how fast the organization travels along that path. Your first focus should be the steering wheel, that is, how you intend to meet the needs of the community.

Board governance creates a structure that helps board members to be well-informed, engaged, and active in linking money to mission, mission to action, and action to accomplishment. A well defined strategy, clear annual priorities, committee charters that identify responsibilities and expectations, and board agendas that are focused on actions and decisions are the critical ingredients for effective board governance.

How we help
Board governance is more than a set of by-laws, rather it is an approach that determines the success of your board in setting and overseeing a strategic direction that sustains your organization's ability to deliver its mission and effectively attract and utilize the resources needed for its mission. Allen Proctor Consulting can help you set up the right structure for your board and committees and then work with you to identify the key objectives for every meeting.

Every board exists in a unique environment that requires unique solutions and approaches to governance. Allen can help you to find the approaches that are best suited for you. As a result of his years of experience, Allen knows the support and information needed by effective boards, who are continually challenged by dilemmas such as these:
  • "We know we need to move ahead on this project, but in our push to get approval are we underestimating some important risks?"
  • "Our financial staff is very good and we get lots of reports and more data than we have time to digest. Are we missing the forest for the trees?"
  • "We get tons of information but we still seem to learn of problems at the last minute."
  • "The budget process takes so much time and demands so many decisions but are we using the board's time in the most productive way?"
  • "We spend all this time on planning yet it seems to be forgotten when our staff prepare their budgets."

We provide a range of services that are committed to bringing best practices into the board room and making finances understandable. Click on this link to see our clients describe how we have helped.

For other ideas on how to effectively utilize your board, please click on the links above for Seminars & Workshops and Resources & Publications.

The Role of Allen Proctor Consulting
As Allen Proctor Consulting works with organizations to evaluate financial condition, identify options and strategies, and build reporting and decision-making structures, it cannot and should not take the place of an engaged board or full-time financial staff. Rather, Allen Proctor Consulting provides the strategy for a sustainable financial future, readies the board and management to undertake the strategy, and "coaches" those responsible for implementing the strategy. The ultimate success of any financial strategy will depend upon effective communication of the goals and justification for your strategy with donors, staff, clients and patrons, and especially the media.