Who’s at the Top Matters! The Board Pro was launched in 2020 on this belief and mantra.
As a supporter of The Board Pro, you know that I work arduously to build better boards and nonprofit leaders. Board service requires tools and a plethora of skills to create the right conditions and right people for board recruitment, onboarding, engagement, fundraising, conflict resolution, and building cultures where all feel that their voices matter.
I believe that board service is for everyone. When People of Color, women, and young professionals serve as board members, they share lived experiences, spur creativity, and raise more money.
Planting the Seeds for Change
I plant the seeds for fertile ground. As a result of my work, boards grow, blossom and bloom. This year we have built a beautiful garden for nonprofits, alliance networks, member-based organizations, nonprofit hubs, software companies, and universities who have benefitted from our expertise. It is rich with colorful hues, shapes, and nonprofit sizes. These are just a few of my 2022 clients:
The Ahmaud Arbery Foundation
YWCA
Media Justice
Emory University
Nonprofit Montgomery
YMCA
Be the Bridge
Technical College System of Georgia
Blues City Cultural Center
Us Helping Us
826
Nonprofit Partnership
American Physical Society
In 2022, I:
Led 23 virtual webinars
Served as a keynote at 2 conferences
Participated on 4 panels
Led 6 board retreats
Served as a guest on 12 podcasts
Facilitated 7 in-person board trainings
Successfully led 3 comprehensive board searches, (onboarding 30+ individuals)
Taught 3 university classes
Wrote 6 blog articles
Trained thousands of individuals worldwide about board governance, fundraising and recruitment
Working with Dr. Renee Rubin Ross
Over the past two years I’ve been working with my friend and colleague, Dr. Renee Rubin Ross, from The Ross Collective, www.therosscollective.com.
I am proud of the incredible experience and work we have created in response to the lack of representation and equity on nonprofit boards. Together we published an article with BoardSource. See it here, (https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/author/christal-m-cherry-dr-renee-rubin-ross) They found our diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) work (https://www.theboardpro.com/trainings) as credible and noteworthy. We were guests on several podcast inlcuding our friends from We Are For Good. Check that out here,
https://www.weareforgood.com/episode/234. We also spoke with Julia Campbell as a guest on Nonprofit Nation. Here is that episode, https://nonprofitnation.buzzsprout.com/1778536/10324518-moving-nonprofit-boards-towards-racial-equity-with-christal-m-cherry-renee-rubin-ross. Last, we had a whole bunch of fun on the Nonprofit Lowdown podcast with Rhea Wong. Enjoy this episode here, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/215-doing-board-deiab-work-right-with-christal-cherry/id1436858854?i=1000589859589.
Renee and I also launched Board Table Talk this fall, a free series of conversational webinars for board members and nonprofit professionals about creating an inclusive culture, fundraising, recruitment, and conflict resolution through a DEIB lens. It was well received! Thanks to those who came, contributed, and learned something new.
Please join us as we continue our path to Equity and Belonging for nonprofit boards. On Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 9 am -12 pm PST, 12 pm -
3 pm EST, we will host our first training for 2023, Designing and Leading Inclusive and Equitable Board Meetings. Limited space is available. The fee is $149. Sign up here, https://bit.ly/btt-Feb.
Mac and Cheez Turned 1!
I also celebrated the one-year anniversary of my first children’s book, Mac and Cheez, Being Different is Okay. It is a wonderful tale with an important lesson that children should embrace difference and accept people for who they are. Learn more here, www.macandcheez.com. Stay tuned, book number two in the Mac and Cheez series will be out in the fall of 2023!
It’s been a tremendous year and I simply could not do this work without the support and encouragement of some pretty amazing people. These include Dr. Renee Rubin Ross, Taylor Shanklin, Marc Pitman, Birgit Burton, Nneka Allen, Ivonne Simms, Rachel Muir, and Tim Sarrantonio. Other supporters include the teams at Bloomerang, We are For Good, Keela, Candid, Network for Good, Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy, Black Canadian Fundraisers Collective, Fabulous Female Fundraisers and a host of other allies.
When you work with me, know there is a respected community of leaders supporting the nonprofit sector, who have endorsed my work as a nonprofit board consultant. Feel confident knowing you are in good hands and good company when it comes to transformational board work.
Keep an eye out in the coming months for a new monthly mini newsletter called Board Bytes and special support for Executive Directors as they learn how to navigate relationships with their boards.
As we move closer to 2023, solidify your plans. Book The Board Pro for your next speaking engagement, board retreat, conference, or college class. I am happy to audit your bylaws, board policies and practices, or complete a comprehensive search to identify diverse professionals to serve and work with you. Connect me with your Executive Director or Board Chair for one-one-one coaching as I recently became a Certified Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach.
Include board development in your next grant application and let’s get the work done to build better and equitable boards in 2023. There is a myriad of collaborative opportunities for us to work together. I can’t wait to see what unfolds.
Thank you again for your support!
Happy Holidays!
Christal M. Cherry
The Board Pro