Thanks for sharing this article. It stimulated a couple thoughts...organizations and funders need to recognize that talking about collaboration is easy, but actually considering and implementing real collaboration is tough, requiring deep planning, a willingness to depart from long standing habits and patterns, and the full buy in from all stakeholders. My other thought about "too many non-profits" is the wide range of organizational effectiveness among the universe of non-profits. I support the idea of having some sort of dynamic rating/mapping system about the effectiveness of a communities' non-profits that speaks to user satisfaction and organizational responsiveness and health. This would not be a static one time scorecard, but rather a dynamic system that allows for continuous user feedback and updates. This would have value for funders, users, and entire communities. It would also inform considerations of mergers, collaborations, and redundancies.

In my experience with Boards we have had either 2 or 3, 3 year term limits.

@Keli Frazier Cox I couldn't find one of our surveys but this is a link to very useful info about Board surveys with many sample questions in various categories. https://www.ibabs.com/en/board-management/board-engagement-survey-questions/

@Keli Frazier Cox and here is another link to a source for Board survey questions and format. https://www.successfornonprofits.com/post/nonprofit-board-survey-questions-your-secret-weapon-for-a-high-performing-board#closed

It's important to recognize that Board members have wide differences about their ability, experience, and comfort with fundraising. Providing them with a handful of options in the ways they can be part of fundraising is helpful and realistic. Here are a few specifics for reluctant Board members: Teaming up two Board members in outreach and meetings can be helpful, more comfortable and fun for folks. Hosting or co-hosting a house party for new and existing donors has proven to very successful. Having all Board members attend fundraising events and bringing friends is important and a way to participate in fundraising. Finally, asking Board members to send follow up thank you notes to donors is an easy but important way to help with the process of fundraising.