Board and Executive Director Relationship – Part 3/3: Creating an Excellent Working Relationship

We’ve already covered supporting your ED (Part 1) and building an exceptional board (Part 2).  Now, we’ve reached our final part of this series – creating an exceptional partnership between your Board and your ED.

You've poured your heart into your nonprofit's mission. You've nailed the fundraising, developed strong programs, and built a stellar team. But if you don’t have an excellent ED-Board partnership, you can only get so far. So, let’s take a look at how to ensure your partnership is out of this world.

Strong Communication Rhythm

Those monthly ED-Chair coffees might seem simple, but they're where the real work happens — addressing concerns before they become problems and celebrating wins privately before public announcements. In addition to your monthly check-ins, schedule quarterly metric reviews where you can honestly assess what's working and what isn't. And don't skip those annual 360 reviews, they're uncomfortable but transformative. Pro tip: Calendar these a full year ahead — what gets scheduled gets done.

Crystal Clear Roles

Get obsessive about clarity. We’ve all hit hiccups and frustrations that end in a conversation like "I thought you were handling that" or "I didn't realize we needed board approval." These kinds of assumptions and vague expectations create the graveyard of great partnerships. Come up with a formal agreement that documents decision boundaries, crisis protocols, and success metrics. Your mission depends on it!

Growing Together

When's the last time you saw a thriving nonprofit with a stagnant leadership dynamic? Creating a professional development plan for your ED isn't something to push off for “when you have the time”; it's oxygen for your mission's future. The same is true for your board, make sure you map out a board evolution plan. And to truly move mountains – tackle this learning together. The strongest nonprofits aren't just doing good work; they're constantly becoming better at how they do it, with leadership and governance growing in lockstep rather than in fits and starts.

Remember, your mission's success doesn't rest solely on programs or fundraising. The magic happens when you support your ED, follow the Board Excellence Blueprint, and build an excellent working between your board and executive leadership.

Want to take it up a notch? Create a Partnership Charter that captures all these elements. Review it annually, update as needed, and — most importantly — live it daily.

You can find Carrie’s LinkedIn post with the ED-Board Partnership Blueprint here. And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more insights!