Services
- Facilitate Board, Board-Staff Retreats and Board Orientations
- Facilitate Board Training
- Conduct By-Law and Policy Reviews
- Advise on Board and Committee Restructuring
- Coach Executive Management and Board Officers in leadership skills
- Write board development plans including Board Diversity Plans
- Facilitate development of policies and procedures including Board Tools:
- By-law and Policy Review and Development
- Board Manual Review
- Board Diversity Plans
Just a quick thank you for all you did as facilitator today - it was a great retreat! So much good energy to propel us into our "Transition to Sustainability". I appreciate all the preparation you do for these events, not to mention the actual day itself. I've been to so many purposeful Board retreats with other organizations and this was one of the best - thanks for all your hard work, you've really helped us!
-Kathy MacLean , Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties
We accomplished more (in one training) than we have in a year.
- former board member, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
I have been with this agency fifteen years and I never have to leave to get more challenge, more opportunity. Now I feel like I will be heading a whole new agency - new name, new mission and new directions.
- Sam Storey, CEO, Community Bridges / Puentes de la Comunidad
Board Development Results
- Boards act with clear purpose and vision.
- Agreements, policies and procedures for effective board staff roles and relations are in writing and in practice.
- Diverse board members are recruited, welcomed and retained.
- Board members have increased willingness and ability to raise funds and to represent the agency in the community.
- Easy to understand election procedures including viable recruitment, nomination, orientation, training and retention strategies are documented and implemented.
- Improved processes and procedures result in sound decisions that meet community expectations and legal requirements.
- Board composition, size and diversity fulfill the Mission and serve the community effectively.
- Board Self-Assessment helps maintain excellence and address challenges.
Background in Board Development
Maria Gitin & Associates (d.b.a) is an independent consulting network based in Northern California serving that region as well as Texas, and New Mexico. We provide training and presentations nationally. Trainings are based on extensive experience and recent research.
The Associates have consulted continuously on foundation-funded Organizational Effectiveness / Management Assistance projects for the past twenty years. The majority of these projects involved board development.
Affiliations
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) - Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 1986
- Leader to Leader/Drucker Foundation, National Training Team
- Senior Trainer, Board Source/National Center for Nonprofit Boards Governance Project
- The Fundraising School, University of Indiana Center on Philanthropy certificate and selected for Executive Leadership Institute
- Strategic Restructuring (Mergers, Alliances and Joint Ventures) - La Piana Associates. Trained to work on pre-merger planning and post-merger integration with emphasis on organizational culture conflict resolution.
Associates Samuel Torres Jr., Esquire and Jeanne S. Hanks, MSW have extensive volunteer and professional experience counseling, consulting with and serving on boards in the public and private sector. All associates have extensive experience with bilingual, bicultural and multicultural organizations.
Representative Clients
Central Coast Center for Independent Living, California Central Coast
Community Bridges / Puentes de la Comunidad, Santa Cruz County
Family Service Agency, California Central Coast
Full Spectrum: GLBT Chorus of Santa Cruz
Gardner (Gardner Family Health Network), Santa Clara County
Pajaro Valley Health Trust, Watsonville
Santa Cruz Women's Health Center
Save Our Shores, Santa Cruz County
Shelter Outreach Plus, Monterey County
Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Senior Center, Santa Clara County
