Case Studies of Non-profit Organizations Where Boards Have Played a Role in Driving the Success of the Organization
Here are several case studies of non-profit organizations where boards have played a crucial role in driving the success of the organization:
1. Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization in over 70 countries. The organization builds homes for low-income families and supports local communities by empowering them to improve their living conditions.
Role of the Board:
Impact:
The board's strong involvement has helped Habitat for Humanity scale globally while staying true to its grassroots mission. The board’s emphasis on strategic partnerships and fundraising has contributed to constructing over 500,000 homes worldwide.
2. Teach for America
Teach for America (TFA) is a nonprofit organization that places teachers in low-income schools across the United States. Its mission is to reduce educational inequality by recruiting college graduates to teach in underserved communities.
Role of the Board:
Impact:
The board's strategic leadership allowed TFA to expand into new regions across the U.S., significantly increasing the number of teachers placed in low-income schools. In addition, the focus on diversity led to greater cultural competency in the classrooms where TFA operates, improving student outcomes.
3. The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is one of the largest environmental organizations in the world. It is dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends.
Role of the Board:
Impact:
Through the board’s leadership, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 125 million acres of land globally and helped to secure long-term commitments from governments and corporations. The board’s focus on financial innovation has allowed TNC to find new ways to fund large-scale conservation projects.
4. Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology by teaching girls coding and computer science skills.
Role of the Board:
Impact:
Under the board’s leadership, Girls Who Code has grown rapidly, reaching tens of thousands of girls across the U.S. The organization’s alum network now includes women who have taken significant roles in the tech industry, further promoting diversity in the sector.
5. Charity: Water
Charity: Water is a nonprofit organization providing clean and safe drinking water to developing nations.
Role of the Board:
The board’s leadership has helped Charity: Water fund over 91,000 water projects and bring clean water to over 15 million people globally. Their focus on transparency and innovative fundraising models has set a new nonprofit standard.
Conclusion:
The board of directors played a crucial role in each case study's nonprofit's success. Whether through financial oversight, fundraising, strategic planning, or advocacy for diversity, the boards provided the leadership and direction needed for these organizations to thrive. This demonstrates that an engaged, diverse, and skilled board is critical to the success of any nonprofit organization.
Presented by:
Pedro Rivera, Board Member, Somos El Poder.
1. Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization in over 70 countries. The organization builds homes for low-income families and supports local communities by empowering them to improve their living conditions.
Role of the Board:
- Governance and Strategy: The Habitat for Humanity International Board of Directors has been instrumental in developing long-term strategies that align the organization’s global mission with local needs. The board’s decision to focus on creating partnerships with local governments and businesses played a significant role in expanding the organization’s reach.
- Diversity and Expertise: The board includes individuals from various sectors, including finance, real estate, law, and community development. This diversity has brought a wide range of expertise and perspectives to the table, helping the organization navigate complex housing challenges.
- Active Fundraising: Board members are actively involved in fundraising, using their professional networks to bring in high-profile donors. This active involvement has significantly increased the organization's funding capacity, allowing Habitat to expand its services.
Impact:
The board's strong involvement has helped Habitat for Humanity scale globally while staying true to its grassroots mission. The board’s emphasis on strategic partnerships and fundraising has contributed to constructing over 500,000 homes worldwide.
2. Teach for America
Teach for America (TFA) is a nonprofit organization that places teachers in low-income schools across the United States. Its mission is to reduce educational inequality by recruiting college graduates to teach in underserved communities.
Role of the Board:
- Strategic Decision-Making: Teach for America’s board was involved in a significant restructuring of the organization in the early 2000s, which allowed it to scale its operations more efficiently. The board worked closely with the CEO to define vital organizational priorities and align resources to meet those goals.
- Fundraising and Advocacy: The board leveraged its connections with major philanthropists and corporations to raise funds and increase TFA's visibility. Some board members were instrumental in securing long-term funding commitments from national corporations, which provided financial stability during periods of rapid growth.
- Diversity and Inclusion: The board helped push for increased diversity among the corps members, leading to better representation of minorities in the teaching workforce. This was crucial in ensuring that TFA was better aligned with the communities it serves.
Impact:
The board's strategic leadership allowed TFA to expand into new regions across the U.S., significantly increasing the number of teachers placed in low-income schools. In addition, the focus on diversity led to greater cultural competency in the classrooms where TFA operates, improving student outcomes.
3. The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is one of the largest environmental organizations in the world. It is dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends.
Role of the Board:
- Financial Oversight and Innovation: TNC’s board is known for its focus on financial oversight and innovation in conservation financing. The board pushed for innovative financing mechanisms like debt-for-nature swaps, allowing countries to reduce their debt in exchange for committing to conservation efforts.
- Leveraging Expertise: Board members with expertise in law, business, and conservation have provided valuable input into complex land deals and partnerships. For example, when TNC sought to purchase large tracts of land for conservation, board members helped to navigate legal and financial hurdles.
- Long-term Vision and Sustainability: The board has been instrumental in setting long-term conservation goals and ensuring that sustainability is integrated into every aspect of the organization’s work. The board members were vital in creating TNC’s 2030 goals for global conservation efforts.
Impact:
Through the board’s leadership, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 125 million acres of land globally and helped to secure long-term commitments from governments and corporations. The board’s focus on financial innovation has allowed TNC to find new ways to fund large-scale conservation projects.
4. Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology by teaching girls coding and computer science skills.
Role of the Board:
- Focus on Scaling and Growth: The board was instrumental in helping the organization grow from a small, grassroots initiative to a national movement. By guiding the CEO in forming strategic partnerships with tech companies, the board helped increase the organization's visibility and reach.
- Advocacy for Diversity: Several board members are key advocates for diversity in the technology sector, and they played an active role in pushing Girls Who Code to teach coding and address broader issues of representation and inclusion in tech.
- Active Involvement in Programming: The board worked directly with staff to ensure that Girls Who Code's programs were aligned with industry needs. This has allowed the organization to tailor its curriculum to prepare girls for tech careers better.
Impact:
Under the board’s leadership, Girls Who Code has grown rapidly, reaching tens of thousands of girls across the U.S. The organization’s alum network now includes women who have taken significant roles in the tech industry, further promoting diversity in the sector.
5. Charity: Water
Charity: Water is a nonprofit organization providing clean and safe drinking water to developing nations.
Role of the Board:
- Governance and Transparency: Charity: Water’s board has made transparency a core principle of the organization. Board members helped create the "100% Model," where all public donations go directly to water projects and operational costs are covered by a separate group of private donors. This model has been vital in building trust with donors.
- Fundraising and Partnerships: The board has been heavily involved in fundraising, particularly by engaging high-net-worth individuals and corporate partners. The board also supported the organization in forming partnerships with local NGOs and governments in its operating countries.
- Innovative Marketing Strategies: The board supported the CEO in adopting creative, marketing-driven approaches to raise awareness. These efforts, combined with a focus on storytelling and digital engagement, have helped the organization maintain a high profile in the crowded nonprofit sector.
The board’s leadership has helped Charity: Water fund over 91,000 water projects and bring clean water to over 15 million people globally. Their focus on transparency and innovative fundraising models has set a new nonprofit standard.
Conclusion:
The board of directors played a crucial role in each case study's nonprofit's success. Whether through financial oversight, fundraising, strategic planning, or advocacy for diversity, the boards provided the leadership and direction needed for these organizations to thrive. This demonstrates that an engaged, diverse, and skilled board is critical to the success of any nonprofit organization.
Presented by:
Pedro Rivera, Board Member, Somos El Poder.
External studies
Underdeveloped- Crucial landmark study about under investment and under development of fundraising at nonprofits. From the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Foundation and Compasspoint. 2012
https://www.haasjr.org/resources/underdeveloped
https://www.haasjr.org/resources/underdeveloped
Four Strategies to Maximize Latino Focused Philanthropy and Charitable Efforts
https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/four-strategies-maximize-latinx-focused-philanthropy-and-charitable-efforts
https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/four-strategies-maximize-latinx-focused-philanthropy-and-charitable-efforts