Red Flags: How to Identify governance issues and strategize their solutions
Registration and refreshments 7:15 am – 7:30 am
Session 7:30 am – 9:00 am
Where: Anderson United Way Center
2059 Atwood Avenue
Madison, WI 53704
Registration Fee: $5.00/person
Registration Deadline: April 6th
About our Presenter
Kirsten Houghton
CPA, MBA Principal

Kirsten is a Principal and the head of the Nonprofit Services Group with SVA Certified Public Accountants, where she works with a variety of nonprofit organizations. She has a wealth of knowledge relating to taxation, specifically the nuances included in the Form 990. In addition, she has expertise in accounting, statement review, and audit specific to the nonprofit sector. Kirsten has served as Chair of United Way Women United and also serves as Co-chair of the United Way Woman in Philanthropy Breakfast. She is past President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) where she serves on the National Philanthropy Day Committee.
About This Session
Effective board governance can be elusive and difficult to achieve. In this session you will learn how to identify red flags and warning signs that underlie the problems your board may face including issues with communication, ineffective board meetings, and lack of strategy, and instead focusing on micro-managing the organization’s operations and the effectiveness of individual board members. Our speaker will discuss the warning signs that lead to situations that include, but are not limited to the following:
- Disorganized or ineffective board meetings where people wonder if anything was accomplished.
- Board meetings that focus on small operational issues and routine updates while avoiding critical functions such as strategic planning and performance monitoring.
- No formal means for the board to communicate expectations to the organization.
- Diversity of opinion is not expressed; there is no disagreement among the board members.
- Board member apathy and poor attendance.
Participants will leave with ways to identify red flags and strategies to resolve them so the Board can do what’s most important – supporting and insuring the organization’s mission and impact.
Please ensure your attendance with timely payment if you have are not paying electronically. If you are unable to send your payment ahead of time, please contact United Way to make arrangements.