Jaques & Company

Counsel to Governing Boards

Today’s non-profit governing boards are challenged in two important ways. First, the organizations they oversee are increasingly complex, with ever-present questions about program evolution, management, strategy, finances, etc. Second, the environment in which the organizations exist is constantly changing, requiring boards to be vigilant regarding mission and program relevance, stakeholder needs/wants, and other market forces at play. In the midst of these “shifting seas,” the board is called upon to provide informed, inspired, sensitive, and often innovative leadership to insure institutional excellence, today and tomorrow. So much responsibility and so little time to fulfill it!

The nature of institutions – and institutional leadership - have changed, requiring more collaborative problem solving, adaptive board structures, flexible agendas, and speed in decision-making. In short, there’s more complexity, ambiguity, and often urgency in the board’s work, and new approaches are needed in order to get it done while keeping those interested, smart, successful, busy trustees motivated and focused.

Jaques & Company’s experience is that the pressures of agenda, finite amounts of time and human resources, and environmental change can be overwhelming. It’s easy for boards to lose their focus on what’s important, and it’s difficult for them to amend the “standard” modus operandi when that is called for.

We can help. Our work with dozens of boards in various non-profit sectors, our commitment to staying abreast of board best practices, and our “outsider’s objectivity” can add fresh perspective and create new value. Some of the ways we can do that are:

• Conducting a one-time audit (or providing ongoing counsel) to examine the board’s charge, agenda, composition & structure, behavioral practices & culture, and to assess the board’s performance and its leadership capacities

• Facilitating board retreats (single or multi-topic)

• Helping the board navigate through a moment of severe challenge or crisis

We welcome the opportunity to discuss your needs with you. Please be in touch with us, 978-626-1410, or info@jaquesco.com.

Team Members:

• Bill Jaques,
• President & Principal
• bill@jaquesco.com
• 978-626-1410

• Andrea C. Stewart
• Consultant
• andrea@jaquesco.com
• 978-626-1410

• Sandy Warner
• Operations Manager
• sandy@jaquesco.com
• 978-626-1410

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