Mark Athitakis

Strategic governance is under more pressure than ever. ASAE Research Foundation Chair Jay Karen, CAE, discusses effective responses, at ASAE and beyond.

NACD’s governance survey found that boards are facing more challenges than ever, and are seeking leadership help beyond strategic planning.

Post-pandemic, boards have asked to meet more often, do more, and think bigger. One governance expert shares what that process looks like.

Associations don’t often plan for an executive’s sudden departure, but it’s worth thinking ahead. A nonprofit financial pro explains the steps.

Antiquated bylaws can lock associations into a structure that makes little sense today. One expert explains why now is a good time for...

An annual review in 2021 is a good way to surface lessons learned from 2020. But it's also an opportunity to better support...

Working with a board for the first time will test a CEO's soft-skills savvy. But there are ways to formalize the simple (and...

The association CEO's job is too complex for check-box job reviews. Two association leaders discuss what can make them more effective.

Entering as a new CEO can be a challenge, especially if you want to do things differently. A well-considered transition plan can pave...

Trust among board members doesn’t happen automatically. CEOs need to cultivate it by nurturing relationships, identifying board champions, and recognizing the risk factors...

Volunteer leaders often start board service poorly oriented on governance. One expert is streamlining the process, highlighting the importance of simply getting along.

Even the best execs can wear out their welcome. Smart CEOs create pipelines that build future leaders and successors.

Deciding whether to make a statement on a contentious social issue or to “stay in your lane” isn’t easy. A clear process and...

A new report on boards suggests their culture needs a rethink. Key to that is assessing where disagreements are and creating opportunities to...

A new report finds that association boards struggle with strategy. Making big changes can start with a tweak to the agenda.

Association boards need to stay strategic. A CGO, dedicated to good governance, might help them stay on point.

New research from the ASAE Research Foundation identifies a disconnect between what association volunteers do and what staff find effective. To bridge that...

To generate more diverse boards, associations need to provide better access to leadership opportunities. Progress might require tweaks to bylaws, but equally important...

Fast action in a crisis isn’t necessarily the same thing as agility. Boards with a built-in culture of strategic conversations, supported by effective...

Sometimes associations are so pleased to have people willing to sit on their boards that they don't ask why they're willing. Digging into...

The National Asphalt Pavement Association had an overstuffed, outdated board. The fix came thanks to some patience—and attention to what kind of engagement...

The authors of an updated edition of Race for Relevance argue not just for smaller boards, but boards that also are more alert...

Once burdened with a top-heavy leadership structure, the Ontario Medical Association has successfully found a way to be more nimble and forward-thinking.

Thanks to COVID-19, associations want change agents in the corner office, but budgets are tight. The savvy new CEO, one expert says, will...

When the American Astronomical Society had a chance to acquire a magazine earlier this year, the price tag was hefty. But it opened...

Board members often come to their first meeting in need of help in building their strategic thinking skills. Firm guidance from the CEO...

Disrupting the pathway to board service has complicated boards' understanding of strategy. That's created a leadership gap that CEOs are well-equipped to fill.

The American Library Association’s search for a new executive director offers a new way of thinking about a familiar debate about who ought...

A grasp of the numbers helps, but an increasingly complex world demands better communication skills too.

From strategic planning to everyday operations, associations are often stymied when it comes to clear decisions. Here is how a few experts chose...

A survey by Heidrick & Struggles and George Mason University of more than 500 nonprofit board members shows how a lack of formal...

One association uses six guiding principles to make sure that leaders from multiple countries can speak in one voice.

It's not easy to expect the unexpected---especially when you have 30 volunteer leaders with different opinions and experiences. One association's experience suggests a...

Sometimes you can fix a broken relationship with a "rogue" chapter, but other times you have to let it go. Here's how one...

A new association needs to expect the unexpected, but the author of The New CEO's Guide has some guidance for surviving the first...

Staff leaders have plenty to manage beside the volunteer pipeline. One volunteer-leader-turned-CEO discusses how to spotlight volunteering without managing it day-to-day.

CEOs have the tricky job of working with a board without taking leadership out of the board's hands. One former executive and governance...

One writer argues that a standing committee can give a board a stronger backbone. Perhaps---if you’re doing it for the right reasons.

Volunteers who’ve given years to an organization can often feel left adrift once their term ends. Clarity about responsibilities, especially at the start...

An association’s guidelines won’t keep a board from becoming divisive---indeed, they can help sow discord. The fix may be as simple as agreeing...

Your next board members likely aren't on your staff. But you might still benefit from training them in board work.

When a long-tenured CEO leaves, the organization's board members need to adjust their assumptions and strategies to help the new executive succeed. It...

When a long-tenured CEO leaves, the organization’s board members need to adjust their assumptions and strategies to help the new executive succeed. It...

Association leaders can find plenty of excuses to stick with the safe and familiar. Holly Duckworth, CAE, has a few ideas on how...

Don't assume everybody agrees on what your organization's mission is. Asking may stoke an argument but unlock new ideas.

The early months of a CEO's tenure can be tense. One association leadership expert discusses how to go from being the newbie to...

It's lonely at the top: A new study suggests that new nonprofit CEOs get little guidance from their boards during their first months...

If an effort to change an association's leadership structure fails, the association will still stand. But a staff leader will be left with...

Boards need deep knowledge of their industry and organization to govern effectively, but can too much "inside baseball" be a bad thing? Here's...

Why Dan Pallotta wants the nonprofit industry to rewrite the way it does business.