Nonprofit Board Chairs can play a number of roles. The Board Chair of St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin is demonstrating what playing the strong leadership chair can mean to a nonprofit. (Please note: I mean only to demonstrate good nonprofit governance, not sing the praises of a military academy).
According to the Chicago Tribune, the Board Chair and former student, a Mr. Crain Bliwas, has taken the lead in bringing the School into the 21st Century, by upgrading technology and the physical plant and implementing strategies to control costs and better manage debt. His focus for the board? Helping with financing conversations and raising money. Sounds like the kind of board chair every nonprofit would be envious over.
And why not? Mr. Bliwas really demonstrates what nonprofit leadership can involve: providing a vision, getting everyone else on board with that vision (staff and board); strategizing on how to execute the vision; and, full engagement in implementing the vision. Indeed, this is what I would rank a high performing Board Chair.