Interview With ASF Program Director on Trustee Leadership Seminar

ASF Program Director Lauren Kotkin was recently interviewed by Program Specialist Angela Jones of Northern California Grantmakers (NCG) about our signature Trustee Leadership Seminar. NCG is our co-host for the daylong intensive seminar, which will be held on December 5 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.

NCG: Tell us a little bit about how and why ASF began offering this seminar.

ASF: ASF started the Trustee Leadership Seminar in 2001 with a grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation. At the time, there wasn’t much programming for foundations with few or no staff. Participating in the seminar was both a way to learn the basics from experts and peers as well as connect with other trustees.

NCG: Who leads the seminar?

ASF: This December the seminar will be facilitated by Patricia Sinay. Patricia is from San Diego, and she has twenty years of experience working with nonprofits including serving as the associate vice president for programs at The San Diego Foundation. In addition, Rob Wexler of Adler Colvin will be on hand to teach foundation legal essentials and Steve Alper of Barclays Wealth will speak to the basic issues around investments that trustees must know.

NCG: How will the day be structured?

ASF: Like all leaders, foundation trustees need specific tools in their toolbox to be effective. So we’ve organized the day around technical and group tools. The technical tool modules are the legal and investments basics of governing a foundation. The group tool modules address governance issues, such as setting direction, operating effectively as a board, and planning for future leadership. We’ll also have an exercise on common sticking points for boards. And finally, we’ll look beyond running the foundation and toward leading the foundation.

NCG: Why should a trustee attend? Why should foundation staff encourage their trustee(s) to attend?

ASF: Typically, trustees who begin board service have varying levels of knowledge on governing a foundation. This seminar offers a one-stop-shop, so to speak, to get up to speed on what they need to know as a trustee. Every participant receives a copy of ASF’s signature publication The Trustee Handbook, which reinforces the seminar and serves as an invaluable resource for further questions.

NCG: What kind of feedback, from trustees who’ve attended this seminar, have you heard? How did what they learn at the seminar impact their work as trustees?

ASF: As with all programs, everyone gets something different from a daylong seminar. Some folks come away appreciating the technical tools most – both legal and investments. For others, the group tools modules makes them think more about their board policies and ones that need to be either written or revised. And, of course, networking with small-staffed foundation colleagues is always mentioned as a benefit of participating. A few years ago, someone wrote on the evaluation form that it was “great the whole board heard the same thing.” Sometimes an entire board attends in order to get everyone on the same governing page.

NCG: Is there still space in the workshop? How do I sign up?

ASF: Yes! There is still space available. Register here. If folks have questions, they can call our office toll free at (888) 212-9922. Thanks, and we hope to see you there.