Engaging Reluctant or Uninvolved Boards

About this Roundtable

January 27th at 9 AM EST for "Engaging Reluctant or Uninvolved Boards," a dynamic session designed to equip non-profit leaders with actionable strategies to transform their board dynamics.

Moderated by Debbie Riveros, this insightful discussion will feature expert speakers Lauren Villanueva and Allison Howe who will share their invaluable experience and practical wisdom.

In this session, we’ll dive deep into:

• Understanding the "Why": Explore the root causes behind board hesitation in fundraising roles and identify common challenges faced by organizations.
• Real-World Solutions: Learn from compelling real-life examples of difficult board dynamics and the crucial lessons learned.
• Adaptive Strategies that Work: Discover practical ways to set clear expectations with new board members, introduce "bite-sized" fundraising roles, and provide the tools and training needed for confident donor conversations.
• Building a Culture of Engagement: Understand how staff and board chairs can partner for accountability, celebrate small wins to shift culture, and re-engage long-time board members who may feel burned out.
• Future-Proofing Your Board: Gain insights into evolving board trends, innovative approaches to fostering a true "culture of fundraising," and key considerations for recruitment and training.

This is your opportunity to gain immediately actionable steps to take back to your board and brainstorm solutions to your unique challenges with fellow non-profit leaders. Don't miss this chance to empower your board, strengthen your organization's culture, and elevate your fundraising success!

About the Speakers

Allison Howe is the Executive Director of NonProfitConnect, a role she has held since January 2019. With over 25 years of nonprofit experience, she has significantly expanded programs and established NonProfitConnect as a key resource for boards and nonprofits. Her consulting work focuses on strengthening boards through self-assessments, training, coaching, and evaluations. Howe's extensive leadership background includes serving as Executive Director of the South Jersey chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and as Vice President of Medical Administration for Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central and Southern New Jersey.

Leigh Taublib-Kiriat is a Senior Vice President at CCS Fundraising, bringing nearly two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector. She specializes in strategic planning and philanthropic growth across the arts, healthcare, and education sectors, having helped organizations raise over $750 million in philanthropic capital. Leigh offers trusted counsel on campaign strategy, major gifts, board development, and organizational assessments. With a sharp eye on the evolving philanthropic landscape, she helps clients navigate complexity by crafting donor strategies and development plans aligned with mission and market realities. A Tulane University graduate, Leigh's commitment to service was shaped by her coordination of Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. She maintains a global perspective, driven by philanthropy's potential for lasting impact.

Lauren R. Villanueva, Ed.D., is the Vice President of Alumni and Constituent Engagement at Syracuse University. She leads a comprehensive program that fosters lifelong connections among alumni, students, families, and friends through events, volunteer opportunities, and digital engagement. She partners with the Syracuse University Alumni Association Board to advance the University's success. Dr. Villanueva joined Syracuse in July 2022 from Drexel University, where she was Assistant Vice President and Executive Director of the Alumni Board of Governors. In that role, she led strategy for programs and volunteer engagement supporting the university’s $750 million campaign. She earned a B.A., M.S., and Ed.D. from Drexel. Her research focuses on talent management and gender in higher education advancement.

Registration Information

• Registration is required for all WID-NJ roundtable events
  
• Free for members | $20 for non-members
• All levels of experience in development, fundraising, and nonprofit management are welcome

To view a list of our upcoming events, visit www.widnewjersey.org/events and save your spots today!