Transformative Governance

From "The New Future of Governance" by Linda C. Crompton, President & CEO, BoardSource

Because the board is the main entity responsible for supervising and guiding the work of the organization, and good governance is the mechanism that enables the board to be successful in designing the organization’s future, it is the board that must transform itself in order to transform the organization and, indeed, society itself. There has never been a greater need for revitalizing the role of boards and for establishing a new framework for board leadership and never a more urgent time to do it. Today, we issue an invitation to board members and aspiring board members to commit to "transformative governance." The time to embrace it is now.

Transformative governance means engaging in breakthrough thinking that embraces emerging trends and developments, and asking the question, "What does this mean for governance?" It means applying new ways of thinking to the principles of governance that have withstood the test of time and expanding the definition of governance to include the elements of leading an organization that is a piece of a whole rather than an end in itself.

*******

Transformative Governance is an ongoing initiative. As BoardSource develops these concepts, we invite boards to look at their organizations holistically and use the following resources to contextualize their organizations' missions within a larger social agenda.

Transformative Principles

Earth Charter Initiative
The New Future of Governance - by Linda C. Crompton, BoardSource President and CEO

Sector Interconnectedness

Action Without Borders
Alliance for a New Humanity
Platforms for Collaboration by Satish Nambisan, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Summer 2009

Social Innovation

New Talk, an online issues forum
Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media
The Three Laws of Performance: Rewriting the Future of Your Organization and Your Life Steve Zaffron & Dave Logan, Jossey-Bass, 2009.

Hunger

Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest)
World Hunger Education Service

Disease, Vaccinations

World Health Organization (UN)

Sustainability and Green Initiatives

Standards, Guidelines, and Approaches
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

Specific Approaches, Guidance, and Examples
A Cost Curve for Greenhouse Gas Reduction by P. Enkvist, T. Nauclér, and J. Rosander. McKinsey Quarterly, February, 2007. (registration required)
FTC Green Guides Review

Organizational Sustainability
Global Compact
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
United Nations Environmental Program-Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI)
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)
Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI)
B Corporation
World Resources Institute
Environmental Defense Fund
Repower America: Clean Energy
Greenpeace: Environmental Research, Advocacy and Lobbying

Sustainability Publications and Web Sites
GreenBiz.com
sustainablebusiness.com
EthicalMarkets.com

Diversity and Inclusion

Leading Change
Compass Point “Daring to Lead” Report
Perspectives on Nonprofit Board Diversity
Achieving Diversity at Nonprofit Organizations
Diversity: Who Should Sit at Your Table?” a Board Member Special Edition

Racial/Ethnic Diversity
Diversity: Who Should Sit at Your Table?” a Board Member Special Edition
Vital Voices Lessons Learned from Board Members of Color - A Preliminary Report
Diversity and Inclusion Compact American Humanics’ Nonprofit Workforce Coalition Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Age Diversity
Next Gen and Governance, a BoardSource Report
Craigslist Foundation’s Next Generation Leadership Forum Report
Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN)
Ready to Lead? Next Generation Leaders Speak Out
Board Life Matters, a BoardSource blog
Mobilize.org, civic engagement for Millennials
Baby boomers and Social Media
Boomers are Ready for Nonprofits

Gender Diversity
The White House Project
Catalyst

Volunteer Opportunities

Action Without Borders
Serve.Gov, managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service
VolunteerMatch