"When the specialists at The Niles Partners facilitates a strategic plan, we take time to discuss implementing the strategic plan. All too often we see a beautiful binder sitting in the executive’s bookcase covered with dust. When asked about it, they respond, “oh that, it’s our strategic plan.” The dust tells the story of the plan implementation.

Usually The Niles Partners hear all the reasons the agency has not implemented the plan. These include new programs, board members, development officer, or the most frequent, “we just don’t have the time”.

"The single most important responsibility a Board member has is to ensure the fiduciary viability of the organization they serve.

The single most important responsibility a Board member has is to ensure the fiduciary viability of the organization they serve."

"The Niles Partners believe board diversity is the primary consideration when assessing a prospective board member. The ability to give or get money is extremely important, however it is not the only qualification for board membership. If getting money is the only criterion by which new board members are brought on, the board may well reflect only one mindset – upper middle to upper class, college educated older people. "

"During any staff or board training engagement, the facilitators from the Niles Partners emphasize rapport building. What does building rapport mean?

Michael Brooks, author of Instant Rapport, defines rapport this way:

“Being in rapport is the ability to enter someone else’s model of the world and let them know that we truly understand their model.”

We discuss some social media statistics that are relevant to nonprofits. Topics cover

1. traditional’ vs. social media marketing
2. time management
3. preferred social networks for nonprofits
4. metrics of engagement
5. "megaphone" versus "conversation" models