NEW NONPROFIT CAPACITY BUILDING OPPORTUNITY

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

For Immediate Release February 25, 2008
FLINT, MICHIGAN (February 25, 2008) — Strengthening the nonprofit sector in Genesee County by reinforcing the leadership and governance of local agencies is the focus of a $300,000 grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation to BoardSource, a Washington, DC-based organization.
Working in collaboration with the BEST Project, a Genesee County capacity building initiative, BoardSource will supplement local efforts to build a better community through more effective boards, according to Linda Crompton, president and CEO of BoardSource, which is nationally recognized as the preeminent source for nonprofit governance technical assistance. “We are extremely excited about this collaboration to bring governance resources to boards of nonprofit organizations in Flint and Genesee County and look forward to working with the BEST Project on this important endeavor,” said Crompton. All Genesee County nonprofit organizations are eligible to participate, according to Jennifer Acree, director of the BEST Project. A kick-off event, the Nonprofit Governance Summit, will take place on Thursday, May 29 from 9 am-4 pm at the Holiday Inn Gateway Centre in Flint. In addition to various board governance workshops, the summit will feature experts on the art of governance as keynote speakers, a networking lunch, and an opportunity to hear from funders regarding the importance of good governance and leadership. Applications will be available at the summit for up to 50 Genesee County agencies to participate in a comprehensive Board Assessment process, said Acree. Up to ten organizations participating in the Board Assessment process will be eligible to apply for governance technical assistance including a full-day Board Retreat facilitated by BoardSource and BEST Project consultants. The multi-year project has four major goals, she continued. In addition to increasing the effectiveness of nonprofit boards of directors, BoardSource and BEST will focus on improving and systematizing analysis of board governance practices; providing governance services to agencies in Flint and Genesee County that are appropriate to their life-cycle stage and organizational development; and providing tools, skills, and knowledge to current and potential board members that increase leadership capacity and agency effectiveness. In addition to the Mott Foundation, this project is supported by the Flint Funders Collaborative (FFC), including the Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Ruth Mott Foundation, and United Way of Genesee County, which is the fiscal sponsor for the BEST Project. "As partners, BoardSource and BEST will be able to leverage their collective knowledge and resources, and help invigorate and energize local leaders who commit time and resources to board service,” said Kimberly Roberson, program officer at the C.S. Mott Foundation. “This initiative also will show how deeply BoardSource’s work and resources can impact a single community." For more information please contact Jennifer Acree, Project Director for the BEST Project, at jmacree@bestprojectonline.org or 810-232-8000. BoardSource BoardSource (www.boardsource.org) is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by strengthening boards of directors. Through consulting, training, publications, and membership, BoardSource provides solutions and tools to improve board performance, acts as a convener and facilitator in the development of knowledge about boards, promotes changes and innovation to strengthen governance, and serves as an advocate for the value of board service and the importance of effective governance. BoardSource is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. BEST Project The BEST Project (www.bestprojectonline.org) designs, facilitates and manages organizational assessment and capacity building services for Genesee County nonprofit agencies. Programming aims to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of participating agencies in alignment with community needs. The capacity building services include, but are not limited to: creation of a vetted consulting pool; targeted consulting including enhanced board development activities through the BoardSource initiative; peer learning, convening, and professional development activities; and just-in-time technical assistance. The Flint Funders Collaborative (FFC) serves as the project’s Advisory Board. C.S. Mott Foundation The Mott Foundation, established in 1926 in Flint by an automotive pioneer, is a private philanthropy committed to supporting projects that promote a just, equitable and sustainable society. It supports nonprofit programs throughout the U.S. and, on a limited geographic basis, internationally. Grantmaking is focused in four programs: Civil Society, Environment, Flint Area and Pathways Out of Poverty. Besides Flint, offices are located in suburban Detroit, Johannesburg (South Africa) and London. The Foundation, with year-end total assets of $2.63 billion, made 545 grants totaling $107.3 million in 2006. For more information, visit Mott.org.