Nonprofit Decision-Making Framework for Complex Challenges

How can the leaders of nonprofit organizations develop and implement a decision-making framework that meets the challenges of today’s nonprofit environment? What is the balance between providing sound information, supporting constructive consideration of options, and arriving at a consensus-based best outcome?

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Learning Objectives

In this workshop, we will introduce a four-step framework an organization’s leadership “ecosystem” can follow that involves:

1. carefully distilling issues into a clear written summary with options and a recommendation
2. sharing this information
3. supporting constructive discussions with stakeholders
4. bringing your leadership into agreement on the best possible decision

After the introduction, we will continue with breakout sessions in which participants will have the opportunity to practice this framework by playing two roles: (1) senior staff presenting a challenging issue in next year’s budget for board approval and (2) members of the board’s executive committee addressing a surprising human resources issue involving senior staff and a valued former member of the board.

We will explore tools including written and oral communication strategies that lead to making the best possible decision, along with tips for maintaining the framework, and trouble-shooting techniques for decision-making.

Target Audience

This training is great for senior leaders of nonprofit organizations — CEOs, board chairs, members of senior staff and the board of directors — who want to improve their organization’s decision-making process when dealing with mission-critical issues

About the Trainers

Dr. John D. Lloyd

Dr. John D. Lloyd is an executive-level professional with 18+ years of leadership and management experience in strategy consulting and organizational development in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Dr. Lloyd has proven experience partnering with senior level executives, boards, and staff members on short-term and long-term organizational development objectives. Dr. Lloyd is currently serving as an Interim Executive Director for AsylumConnect, an international social advocacy and civic engagement nonprofit organization focusing on LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and members of the community. Prior to AsylumConnect, Dr. Lloyd served as Interim Executive Director, Boston Education Skills & Training (BEST), and Executive Director, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI), two Boston based nonprofit organizations. Prior to serving as a nonprofit leader, Dr. Lloyd, co-founded and led Vanguard & Associates from 2009-2018, a strategy consulting practice focused on providing strategic planning and organizational development services in the nonprofit and private sectors. Engagements included conducting intake interviews, focus groups, analyzing client inputs, synthesizing conclusions, and developing recommendations for implementation. Dr. Lloyd is currently an adjunct faculty member at Boston University, Boston College, and Simmons University. He is also on the Board of Directors, African Economic and Community Development Foundation, serving as its Chair, Strategic Planning Committee. Dr. Lloyd holds an Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Development, University of Pennsylvania, an MBA, Bentley University and BS, Plymouth State University. A native of Sharon, Massachusetts, John currently lives in Randolph with his wife, Dr. Wanda Montañez and their yorki-poo Cinco.

Tom Martorelli, MBA

Tom is a seasoned nonprofit executive with experience in management, marketing, finance, and communications. He provides leaders in community organizations with strategic planning and implementation support, including their internal operations and the ways in which these organizations interact with their communities, government, and business partners. Tom began his career summarizing evidence for Leon Jaworski and the Watergate Special Prosecution Force in Washington, DC. A graduate of Princeton University, he is one of the first graduates of Harvard Business School to work in nonprofit organizations both before and after earning his MBA. Tom’s lifelong interest in community health centers began with service as a board chair, developing several centers’ strategic plans, and authoring For People, Not for Profit, the history of Fenway Community Health Center in Boston. His environmental program leadership includes directing the Mellon Foundation/Appalachian Mountain Club’s National Volunteer Project. As an entrepreneur, he has started more than a dozen nonprofit organizations and three for-profit ventures. He has worked for Road Scholar Adventure Travel as a blogger, Boston College as an historian, the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers as a market researcher, and as project manager for the Discovery Channel Titanic traveling exhibition. As an author, Tom has written biographies of characters in Boston’s maritime community and recently co-wrote a novel set in the Negro Baseball Leagues of the 1950s. Tom’s international work includes consulting for Trafalgar/The Travel Company (Great Britain). He is currently president of the African Economic and Community Development Foundation (United States and Cameroon).