{"id":250,"date":"2023-02-28T12:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T12:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/?p=250"},"modified":"2023-02-16T02:48:12","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T02:48:12","slug":"the-3d-most-important-responsibility-for-a-nonprofit-arts-board","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/02\/28\/the-3d-most-important-responsibility-for-a-nonprofit-arts-board\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3d Most Important Responsibility for a Nonprofit Arts Board"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It’s not what you think. Take you to your leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The third most important responsibility for a nonprofit board member is to choose the executive director. That said, everything about the relationship between the executive director and the board of directors must change in this Pre-Post-Pandemic Era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First of all, a key change must take place. We\u2019ve discussed this at length in previous articles<\/a>, but it\u2019s worth mentioning and explaining again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/bit.ly\/3GKQifl<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, it makes no sense to employ an artistic director who acts as the \u201cface\u201d of the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An artistic director does not prove your company\u2019s worth as a charity, only as an arts producer. Your community does not need an arts producer as much as it needs the benefits that can come from a well-run charity, even if that charity happens to produce art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one cares about Shakespeare, Mahler, or The Nutcracker<\/em> when so much of your community\u2019s residents are living (barely) on the streets, in tent cities, or in their cars. Because nonprofit arts organizations do not actually create art, the basis for their existence has to fall in line with section 501(C)(3), which compels all exempt companies to do very specific things.<\/a> None of those things include the production of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An artistic officer\u2014on the same level and pay scale as a development, marketing, education, and finance officer\u2014is all that is required, and allows the executive director to push the art toward the mission and not the mission toward the art, which has become the sad default to so many failing companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the process of choosing your executive director (not \u201cPresident,\u201d not \u201cCEO,\u201d and not, as Gilbert and Sullivan put it, \u201cFirst Lord of the Treasury, Lord Chief Justice, Commander-in-Chief, Lord High Admiral, Master of the Buckhounds, Groom of the Back Stairs, Archbishop of Titipu, and Lord Mayor, both acting and elect, all rolled into one\u201d), a fundamental change in relationship has to take place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s time to radically adjust leadership. In a successful nonprofit arts organization in today\u2019s normal, the board\u2019s duties are monitored by the executive director, not the chairman of the board. So when a board chooses an executive director, they are hiring their boss, not their employee.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the current iteration of nonprofit arts organizations, there are usually two leaders at the top of the staff portion of the organizational chart. At least one is an artistic director, a second is a managing director. It\u2019s in the titles themselves: an artistic director directs the artistry and a managing director directs the management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At more than one insecure organization, an artist (or worse, the previous artistic director) serves as a third executive leader. Usually, this is to make sure that the artists win any internal battles 2-1. Two leaders are ungainly and require a great deal of energy to pull off. Three leaders expose organizational weakness, especially in nonprofit terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awkwardness arises when one leader reports to the board but not the other(s). There are still some organizations with structures that indicate that the artistic director reports to the board (because, frankly, talking about art is more pleasant than talking about deficits or renovations). This is a good way to overlay an unsettling side-taking and foment mistrust all around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The change proposed here is one that appears obvious to other parts of the sector: namely, the programming lead would not be the leader of the organization. Instead, the leader of the mission (the real <\/em>boss of the organization) would have clear power of vetting programming, data gathering, and gauging the efficacy of results while managing board members\u2019 ability to use their tools, connections, and education to raise money and further the mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The check on the executive director, might be a board and staff \u201cvote of confidence\u201d that would either confirm the executive director is acting appropriately and effectively or suggest that the executive director\u2019s departure might be the best action for the future of the company. Whatever the mechanism, there must be a check on each level of the company (board, staff members, etc.). However, because the executive director is responsible for the stability and growth of the company (with help from the board members, a huge percentage of whom only work for the company a maximum of 3 hours a month), board members are in no position to dictate operations or responsibilities. The executive director (who should also be an ex-officio member of the board), provided that s\/he is doing the job for which s\/he was hired in the first place, is the only person suited to serve in that capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To insure that the board\u2014you\u2014are hiring the best person for the job as the leader of your company, it is recommended that you remove some of the obstacles in hiring that offer the company more protections than the leader. The biggest bugaboo, for example, is the \u201cemployment at will\u201d clause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The United States is the only major industrial power<\/a> that maintains a general employment-at-will rule. If a leader with purpose is going to take a chance on engaging the skills it requires to make your organization work, that leader can\u2019t be held hostage to discharge for no reason. If you want to have a 90-day probationary period, that might be acceptable; but then again, that 90-day period may cause a hugely talented potential leader to balk. The negotiation is up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the contract for the person you hire must be for at least one year and completely guaranteed. In other words, assuming there is no probationary period issue and the leader is serving ethically and in good faith (regardless of your personal opinion), the entire year\u2019s salary must be guaranteed as long as the termination was not wrongful. Each new contract should be negotiated no less than 4 months ahead of the expiration date so that the leader can make plans for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This protects both sides. You\u2019re protected because, as long as the contract is exclusive, the leader cannot take a new job without your permission, without that leader owing you <\/em>for the balance due. And, of course, the leader is protected from you finding someone shinier, because then, you would owe the leader the balance, regardless of everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, when there is no such thing as 40-year loyalty (and why would there be?) in employment circles\u2014on either side of the table\u2014hiring your boss is the best way to ensure that the charitable mission of your company is worthy of the best people available. That person is far likelier to lead you to success, a better community, and the solution of the issues plaguing your community than you are (at 3 hours a month) or an artist that believes that his\/her vision is more important than the community itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Based in Kirkland, Washington, <\/em>Alan Harrison<\/em><\/a> is a writer and speaker specializing in nonprofit organizations, strategy, the arts, and life politics. His columns appear regularly in major publications. Contact him directly at <\/em>alan@501c3.guru<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re feeling generous or inspired, just <\/em>click on the coffee cup<\/em><\/a> above. You don\u2019t have to, of course, but if you can afford it and find some value here, please provide the desperate need for caffeine.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alan is always looking for good opportunities to write and consult for nonprofits that need a hand. And, of course, that elusive <\/em>Perfect Opportunity\u2122.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BIG NEWS: Alan\u2019s new book, \u201cScene Change: Why Today\u2019s Nonprofit Arts Organizations Have to Stop Producing Art and Start Producing Impact\u201d will be published in January by Changemakers Books<\/a>. Pre-orders in the fall. A few copies may be available as early as May for those booking conferences, reading engagements, and speaking engagements. Just let Alan know if you want him to visit your bookstore or your boardroom!<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 2023, it makes no sense to employ an artistic director who acts as the \u201cface\u201d of the company.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,20,22,32,23,19,18,17],"tags":[48],"class_list":{"0":"post-250","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-culture","8":"category-board-of-directors","9":"category-board-of-trustees","10":"category-charity","11":"category-executive-director","12":"category-leadership","13":"category-nonprofit","14":"category-nonprofit-arts-organizations","15":"tag-artistic-director","16":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Hiring-your-boss-not-your-employee2.jpg?fit=1836%2C1188&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":230,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/02\/07\/what-did-you-talk-about-at-your-first-nonprofit-arts-board-meeting-tonight\/","url_meta":{"origin":250,"position":0},"title":"What Did You Talk About at Your First Nonprofit Arts Board Meeting\u00a0Tonight?","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"February 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s the first Tuesday in February. 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Stop telling other people what they oughta do.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Beware-the-board-member-kibbitzer.jpg?fit=1108%2C598&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Beware-the-board-member-kibbitzer.jpg?fit=1108%2C598&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Beware-the-board-member-kibbitzer.jpg?fit=1108%2C598&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Beware-the-board-member-kibbitzer.jpg?fit=1108%2C598&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Beware-the-board-member-kibbitzer.jpg?fit=1108%2C598&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":270,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/03\/14\/whats-your-boards-fifth-most-important-responsibility\/","url_meta":{"origin":250,"position":2},"title":"What\u2019s Your Nonprofit Arts Board\u2019s Fifth Most Important Responsibility?","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"March 14, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Now that you have the first four under your belt, here\u2019s where the rubber meets the road.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lion.jpg?fit=1200%2C776&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lion.jpg?fit=1200%2C776&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lion.jpg?fit=1200%2C776&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lion.jpg?fit=1200%2C776&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Lion.jpg?fit=1200%2C776&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":809,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/03\/19\/nonprofit-arts-marketing-drive-for-image-first-the-road-to-revenue-follows\/","url_meta":{"origin":250,"position":3},"title":"Nonprofit Arts Marketing \u2013 Drive for Image First; The Road to Revenue Follows","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"March 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"So, here\u2019s the scoop on nonprofit arts marketing: it\u2019s about crafting and trumpeting the image of the organization, not \u201csell tickets.\u201d Tickets are a byproduct.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/pexels-lisa-fotios-3616628.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/pexels-lisa-fotios-3616628.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/pexels-lisa-fotios-3616628.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/pexels-lisa-fotios-3616628.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/pexels-lisa-fotios-3616628.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":993,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/09\/03\/scene-change-2-now-available-for-preorder\/","url_meta":{"origin":250,"position":4},"title":"Scene Change 2 Now Available for Preorder","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"September 3, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"As a follow-up and companion to the book SCENE CHANGE, I have just completed SCENE CHANGE 2.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/COVER-Art-Scene-Change-2.jpg?fit=778%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/COVER-Art-Scene-Change-2.jpg?fit=778%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/COVER-Art-Scene-Change-2.jpg?fit=778%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/COVER-Art-Scene-Change-2.jpg?fit=778%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":291,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/03\/28\/nonprofit-arts-organization-boards-an-epilogue\/","url_meta":{"origin":250,"position":5},"title":"Nonprofit Arts Organization Boards: An Epilogue","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"March 28, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"If you are a nonprofit arts board member, you have a chance to build something great. And no, the best way is not to copy your fellow arts organizations.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Build-a-Board-Workshop.jpg?fit=1200%2C643&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Build-a-Board-Workshop.jpg?fit=1200%2C643&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Build-a-Board-Workshop.jpg?fit=1200%2C643&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Build-a-Board-Workshop.jpg?fit=1200%2C643&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Build-a-Board-Workshop.jpg?fit=1200%2C643&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=250"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":307,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250\/revisions\/307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}