Few relationships have a greater impact on nonprofit board effectiveness than the partnership between the board chair and executive director. When roles are clear, communication is strong, and trust is high, the chair and ED can help the entire board govern more effectively. When the relationship is unclear or strained, the effects can quickly ripple across the organization. In this interactive webinar, we’ll explore practical strategies for building a strong board chair/executive director partnership while maintaining appropriate governance and management boundaries. Participants will examine common chair/ED challenges, work through real-world scenarios, and leave with concrete questions, tools, and practices they can use to strengthen this critical relationship.
Key Takeaways:
- Clarify the distinct and shared roles of the board chair and executive director.
- Identify practices that build trust, communication, and accountability in the chair/ED relationship.
- Recognize common sources of tension or role confusion and apply strategies for addressing them constructively.
- Use practical tools and conversation prompts to strengthen their own chair/ED partnership and support more effective board governance.
Center-Hosted EventAll Others: $35
About the Presenters:
Marisa Bryant brings 25+ years experience as an employee, board member, and volunteer in the nonprofit, higher ed, faith, and education fields. She has served as board chair for multiple nonprofits and as Chair of Church Council for one of the largest churches in North Carolina.
Dr. Mary Ann Wolf has nearly thirty years of experience in the nonprofit and public sectors, including serving as an Executive Director for national and state-based, highly effective nonprofits.