|
Submitting Foundation
|
|
Foundation Name:
|
The Cleveland Foundation
|
|
Address:
|
1422 Euclid Avenue, Suite 1300
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
|
|
Phone:
|
216-861-3810
|
|
Fax:
|
216-589-9039
|
|
Website URL:
|
www.clevelandfoundation.org
|
|
Founded:
|
1914
|
|
Assets:
|
$100 Million+
|
Percent of assets available
for competitive grantmaking:
|
32
|
|
Service Area:
|
Urban
|
|
Population Served:
|
500,000+
|
|
Submitted By:
|
Leslie A. Dunford
|
|
Title:
|
Chief of Staff and Corporate Secretary
|
|
Direct Phone:
|
216-615-7152
|
| |
|
Practice Example Details
|
|
Applicability:
|
All community foundations
|
|
Methodology:
|
Develop board characteristics matrix
|
|
Standards:
|
A community foundation has an independent governing body broadly representative of the community it serves.
A community foundation's governing body is not controlled by an other nonprofit organization, or by any single family, business or governmental entity or any narrow group within the community.
|
How does this practice
meet the applicable standard?
|
When the board won approval to expand from 11 to 15 members and at the same time was faced with replacing several retiring board members, the board governance committee set their sights on formalizing a process that would meet the objective noted above. A two-part process was created:
I/The board governance committee developed criteria for board selection to ensure a variety of voices and competencies. This criteria includes: integrity of purpose; professional /volunteer status; special competencies or skills; demonstrated leadership skills; experience in philanthropy/demonstrated personal inclination to be a philanthropist; working knowledge of the community and its needs; linkage(s) with key organizations in the community; active status in the community; comfortable with change; race; gender; geography. This tool helped to narrow lists of potential board members.
II/The board governance committee also designed a chart to assess the current board, using objective data only (race, gender, geography, religious denomination, age at time of appointment, areas of expertise). Each board member was asked to complete the chart and identify what they believed were their top 3 areas of expertise. This tool was used to identify gaps in the current board mix.
|
Briefly describe the practice,
including key elements:
|
Our board of directors takes very seriously the commitment to have a board that reflects the larger community. The board appointment process is designed to ensure this diversity as well as a broad range of views and knowledge.
|
What method is used for
monitoring and measuring outcome?
|
Candidates for the board are solicited from board members, staff and others. The board governance committee then uses the tools noted above in its review of potential candidates.
|
|
What were the results?
|
As a result of this work, we now have a process in place that can be documented and shows a commitment to diversity in its broadest sense. Our board remains a true reflection of our community.
|
