Boardroom Resource Hub

The following resources are intended to support board operations, development and engagement. Board members and council directors can use these resources to assist with strategic planning, board operations, board member expectations, board member job descriptions, board recruitment, board member onboarding, board evaluations, council director performance reviews and more!

All resources and documents on this page are also located on the Council Portal here. Please that many of the hyperlinks included within documents on this page link to the Council Portal and GOTR Learning Academy. Please direct questions about accessing the Council Portal or GOTR Learning Academy to councilsupport@girlsontherun.org.  

 Development Resources

• Governance Timeline: Outlines the basic functions of a governance committee with recommended operations and timelines based on a fiscal year.
• Board Self-Evaluation tool: Identifies areas of growth and opportunity for mid-year and/or annual check-ins with board members. Consider also using the Board Impact Summary tool to capture board members’ personal contributions based on their role and expectations.
• Board Evaluation tool: Captures and understands each member’s annual overall board experience and feedback.
• Sample Bylaws: Explains the legally binding rules that outline how the board of a nonprofit will operate. While they are unique to each organization, nonprofit bylaws generally have a similar structure and use.
• Position descriptions: Outlines the overall board member role, each officer position and committee roles.
  • Board Member
  • Board Chair
  • Vice Chair
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Standard Non-Profit Committees
  • Whose Role Is It Anyway

Recruitment, Orientation and Onboarding Resources

• READ FIRST: Steps to Creating a Diverse Board
• Key Considerations to Creating a Diverse Board
• Board Matrix: Assist your council’s recruitment efforts by assessing your current board composition and identifying opportunities to diversify and/or expand your board.
• Recruitment Outlets & Strategy: Enhance your recruitment efforts with this comprehensive list of creative outlets to diversify your board.
• Sample Board Member Marketing Language 
• Example Conversation Questions 
• Onboarding Check List and Board Binder: Use these supportive onboarding documents to get started.
• Board Interest Form Pinwheel Instructions
• Board Member Expectations & Commitment Example
• New Board Member Orientation and Onboarding Check List
• Board Orientation Options, Best Practices and Considerations
• Board Binder Example
• Board Orientation PowerPoint Template
• Individual Board Member Fundraising Plan Example

Board Training Opportunities

Board Fundamentals Webinar Series (55 minutes) Pre-recorded. Originally released on Jan. 4, 2023.

Board members and council directors can use this four-part series for staff or board trainings, board orientation and onboarding sessions, board assessment of best practices or as a personal refresher. Topics include: 

• Part 1: Board Member Experience (16 minutes)
• Part 2: Committee Structures and Best Practices (10 minutes)
• Part 3: Healthy Governance Operations (18 minutes)
• Part 4: Board Recruitment to Build a Diverse & Engaged Board (11 minutes)

Succession Planning Recorded Workshop Series 

Pre-recorded, released throughout January 2023

This three-part workshop series explores different aspects of the leadership transition process. The recorded session topics include:

1. Session 1: Building a Leaderful Organization: An Approach to Succession Planning
2. Session 2: The Leadership in Leaving
3. Session 3: If We Were to Do It Again…Lessons Learned

Annual GOTR Census Report – FY22 & Fall 2022 Projections (41 minutes)

Pre-recorded, released on October 5, 2022

The GOTR Census Report is designed to provide organizational insight through numbers, drive continuous improvement and review national trends. This Annual Census Report reflects organizational performance through the fiscal year 2022 and fall 2022 projections. Census Reports will be available following each season, and an annual report will include financial and staffing data.

Board Training Playlist

The new playlist, great for onboarding and orientation sessions, includes: 

• Board Fundamentals Webinar Series
• Good to GOTR: New to Girls on the Run
• GOTR Need to Know
• Board Training: Board Fiduciary Responsibilities

Council Director Resources

• Executive Director job description: Use to recruit the executive director role and as a guide for setting annual executive director individual goals and objectives.
• Council Director SMART Goals & Evaluation template: Each staff member, especially the executive director, should create (with support from the Board Chair and/or Gov Committee) individual annual goals and objectives that measure success, track progress, identify areas of opportunities, and serves as an accountability and feedback tool.
• Succession Planning Guide: Successfully managing the departure of a Council Director in tandem with the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of a new executive is a process that typically requires strategic planning. Boards can get ahead of the game by thinking through the desired course of action when a Council Director transition occurs. 

Top Three Board Resources

1. Adjusted Mission Advancement Markers & Workbook
2. Council Build Back + Build Back Stronger – Three Build Back Phases
3. GOTR Strategic Map 2022-2023

IDEA Resources and Updates

The IDEA Strategic Planning toolkit listed below assists councils in effectively incorporating the organization’s IDEA Strategic Imperatives into their strategic plans. Councils may use the toolkit resources independently or through a cohort structure.

Toolkit Resources:

• READ FIRST: IDEA Strategic Plan Toolkit 
• IDEA Checklist 
• IDEA Readiness Matrix 
• Taking Action on IDEA: A Council Questionnaire 
• IDEA Strategic Imperatives 
• IDEA Strategic Imperatives Activity 
• IDEA Internal SWOT 
• IDEA Focus Group Interview Activity 
• IDEA Strategic Planning Tool Example 
• GOTR New Jersey East Strategic Map 
• FY22-23 HQ Strategic Plan 
• IDEA Strategic Planning Cohort Syllabus 

Ongoing IDEA Updates:

Three Strength Through Connectedness (STC) groups launched in late 2021. These affinity groups are peer-led and provide a space for belonging and action for our organization’s marginally represented groups.

The Council Leadership Initiative launched and supported 13 pilot councils in implementing inclusive hiring practices to increase diverse staff representation. 36% of staff hired through the pilot identified as BIPOC.

June board survey insights will inform work on a board recruitment toolkit along with opportunities for board member IDEA collaboration.

GOTR HQ is partnering with the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MEAC) on an external IDEA curriculum review. 76 councils provided over 3,6,000 responses from participants, coaches and families. The final results will be shared with councils in December.

The IDEA Subcommittees are currently reviewing the GOTR HQ Policy manual through an IDEA lens. Work is in place to launch a toolkit and cohort opportunity for councils ready to embed IDEA imperatives into their council’s strategic plan.

Creating Gender Inclusive Spaces Online Module (located in the GOTR Learning Academy*)
To reinforce our ongoing commitment to IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity and access), GOTR HQ has developed an online module called Creating Gender Inclusive Spaces in collaboration with gender inclusion expert Anne Sutkowi-Hemstreet, MPH, of Rainbow Collective for Change. This module aims to provide introductory language and tools for everyone at Girls on the Run to challenge gender stereotypes and create welcoming spaces. In this self-guided module, learners will learn about gender inclusion and why it matters, understand why gender stereotypes are harmful, and gain key strategies to create a gender inclusive space.