BoardSource
BoardSource envisions a future where the nonprofit community has the leadership to fulfill its purpose and create a just world where all can thrive. Our mission is to inspire and support nonprofit boards and executives to lead justly and with purpose. Established in 1988, BoardSource’s work is grounded in the fundamental belief that boards are critical to organizational success. With decades of hands-on experience working with and supporting nonprofit boards, BoardSource is the recognized leader in nonprofit governance and leadership, and a go-to resource for nonprofit board and executive leaders. BoardSource supports a broad and diverse cross-section of social sector organizations with • leadership initiatives addressing key opportunities and issues within the nonprofit sector • research and benchmarking of board composition, practices, and performance • membership and board support programs • performance assessment and board evaluation tools • a comprehensive library of topic papers, publications, and downloadable infographics, tools, templates and more • live and virtual education and training • a consultant network with governance consultants who work directly with nonprofit leaders to design specialized solutions to meet an organization’s needswww.boardsource.org
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Search complete. 5 mentions across 2 episodes found for "BoardSource".
Oct 12, 2026
SeanHOST
Now, I'm not going to tell you term limits are going to fix everything because they certainly don't.
SeanHOST
BoardSource, which has tracked nonprofit board practices for years, recommends that boards adopt them, and the most common structure in their research is two consecutive three-year terms.
SeanHOST
But term limits alone won't give you a strong board.
SeanHOST
Recruitment, orientation, clear expectations and accountability, mentoring, all of those need attention too.
SeanHOST
Quite a bit, as it turns out, mostly in the work that makes building a pipeline feel like too much to take on.
SeanHOST
So I want you to start with a board matrix.
SeanHOST
BoardSource recommends one, a simple grid that maps the skills, experience, and perspective your organization needs against what your current board actually has, so you can see where the gaps are.
SeanHOST
Most boards never build one because that feels like a project.
Mares AsfahaHOST
So we're really excited today to have Monica, Kalara, Varma, and Kevin Walker join us to talk all about why boards again, why boards still, why are we always talking about boards to just dig into this topic more.
Mares AsfahaHOST
So for folks who don't know, Monica is the president and CEO of BoardSource, which is a fantastic resource for foundation and nonprofit organizations who are really looking to work on their boards and centering boards.
Mares AsfahaHOST
purpose on their boards.
Mares AsfahaHOST
Kevin's the president and CEO of Northwest Area Foundation.
Mares AsfahaHOST
So to get us started today, we wanna tackle this question of why boards again? Monica, I would love to have you start.
Mares AsfahaHOST
So just for some background for folks who are listening slash watching us, In 2025, P&W surveyed our members and we saw that boards were mentioned a ton and people were really talking about how boards can be one of the biggest challenges or they can really be one of the biggest vehicles to help advance equitable outcomes in their organizations.
Mares AsfahaHOST
Monica, I know you have been steeped in this conversation at BoardSource and would love to have you chime in on unpacking this a bit and telling us a little bit about why is this so important right now?
Monika Kalra VarmaGUEST
Yeah, well, first, I'm really excited that we're talking about boards because as you mentioned, they are the thing that stands often in the way of an organization fulfilling its mission and purpose or really the engine and the possibility.