Connecting Your Board to Your Community

Because Alfred and Mary Douty had no immediate family, they selected their foundation’s trustees from personal and business relationships. In time, the Doutys recognized their foundation’s need for greater connection to the communities it hoped to serve, and they sought out community nonprofit leaders to invite onto the board. They also developed an advisory committee to provide wisdom on issues and trends of special interest. Over the last decade, their efforts brought the voices of African Americans and women to the board and advisory committee. Combining community representatives with members who personally knew the Doutys, the board is better positioned to meet its mission and sustain the vision of the founders with less academic and more honest, connected discussions of community needs.