Case study
Strengthening Foundation Board Operations During an Executive Leadership Transition
Challenge
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science Foundation Board at William & Mary faced a critical juncture as the organization navigated a change in executive leadership. With attention and bandwidth naturally drawn to the transition, the Foundation Board and Advancement staff were stretched thin, challenged to manage day-to-day responsibilities while simultaneously meeting the added demands of board operations. To maintain momentum, preserve board engagement, and ensure continuity of governance, the VIMS Foundation Board needed fractional board operational support to bridge the gap and set the board up for long-term success under new future leadership.
The Case
DLG conducted initial stakeholder interviews to establish a clear baseline of the Foundation's history, governance structure, and operational needs. From there, DLG took the lead on planning, executing, and following up on board meetings and committee activity, while simultaneously addressing underlying structural gaps. Work included developing communication plans and annual calendars to keep Trustees informed and aligned, clarifying board member roles and responsibilities, creating governance documents and committee charters, and building a structured onboarding experience for new Trustees. To enhance operational efficiency, DLG utilized existing software platforms, provided training, and improved platform structure and implementation consistency, allowing Trustees to access board materials on demand. The result was a Foundation board that emerged from the leadership transition more organized, better governed, and with meaningfully reduced burden on staff.
Value Added
CREATED A RIGHT SIZED BOARD GOVERNANCE approach for efficient decision making and accountability
IMPLEMENTED NEW SYSTEMS to simplify the trustee experience and provide better document control
DEFINED ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES for foundation leadership, Board Executives, committee members, and general members
DEVELOPED BOARD COMMUNICATION STRATEGY to keep members fully informed and engaged
Deliverables &
Artifacts
Meeting Planning & Execution
Governance Documentation
Committee Charters
Board Communication Plan
Annual Board Calendar
Board Member Roles & Responsibilities
New Trustee Onboarding & Training
Meet the Consultants
Morgan Hutter
Morgan has 15+ years of experience in non-profit organizations, higher education, and project management.
Elisabeth Klughardt
Elisabeth’s key strengths, including her talent for relationship building and stakeholder alignment, are underpinned by her strategic thinking.