Inspired by Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund's purpose-driven approach, BoardSource President and CEO Monika Kalra Varma and David Onek sat down for a virtual fireside chat to explore insights on the practicalities and the possibilities of operationalizing PDBL principles within their organization.
What is Purpose-Driven Board Leadership?
Purpose-Driven Board Leadership (PDBL) is a framework introduced by BoardSource in 2021 that provides a new way forward for nonprofit board leadership and governance. This shift in thinking prioritizes an organization's purpose, shows respect for the ecosystem in which it operates, commits to an equity mindset, and recognizes that power must be authorized by the community it aims to serve. "Having the right people sitting around the table really drives values, strategic leadership, and the oversight that we all need in our nonprofit organizations," Monika shared, grounding the discussion in the PDBL framework.
In a recent article from The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund (SV2) CEO David Onek shared how he was able to diversify their board by including former grantees. His efforts reshaped their board composition, leading to more effective grantmaking, stronger community connections, and enhanced fundraising efforts.
SV2's Equity-Focused Leadership and Journey
Before David joined SV2 in 2020, the board had already formed a DEI working group and was planning JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) training for all members, signaling a deep commitment to equity. When David came on board, 37% of board members were BIPOC, a significant shift from an all-white board previously. David emphasized that the real issue was not who was at the table, but who wasn’t.
The PDBL framework reinforces how a board’s composition influences its values and decision-making. Monika noted that principles like authorized voice and power and equity mindset are interconnected, and board diversity leads to a broader perspective on the organization’s ecosystem.
Over the last four years, SV2 has further diversified its board, which is now 70% BIPOC and 80% women. With an enhanced focus on an equity mindset, SV2 launched a new participatory grantmaking process. "We called it our community initiative," David said as he recounted the board's journey to create a smaller core review team of ten members, which included three staff, four community leaders, three of whom were former grantees. By bringing community into the process and sharing decision-making with those directly impacted by their work, SV2 established more impactful connections within the communities they serve. Two of these community leaders became board members. Monika tied it back to PDBL, saying, "You're thinking about the ecosystem because you've got the right authorized voice and power in the room, and even when there's a disagreement, you're grounded in why you're there and where you're going."
SV2's organizational shifts ushered in new opportunities and strengthened financial stability. By involving more voices and perspectives from the community, SV2 found that its mission was resonating, attracting over 30 new donors and increasing contributions from existing donor partners. Following these changes, the organization experienced the strongest financial year in its history and became even further aligned with its purpose, reinforcing the organization’s three primary service pathways: grantmaking, impact investing, and immersive learning.
Building Your Purpose-Driven Board
During the fireside chat, attendees were asked, "What information from today are you committed to trying?” The responses that generated the most energy among the 300+ sector leaders were the following:
Inclusive Strategic Planning
SV2 created a special steering committee to guide the organization and its stakeholders in an inclusive strategic planning process that involved 120 donor partners, grantee partners, impact investee partners, and others in the philanthropic and nonprofit communities. "It took us 9 months to do our strategic plan," David said "But it was worth every moment because getting everyone on board and asking for so much input and incorporating it has allowed us to implement very rapidly, with very little resistance." As a result, the strategic plan includes five guiding principles, empowering SV2 to overcome challenges and stay committed to its mission, highlighting the impact of inclusive strategic planning on organizational success.
Embracing Community and Centering Equity
In a shift from their traditional approach, SV2's strategic plan allowed the grant awards process to now embrace more impactful collaboration. "We really brought community into the process," David shared, “bringing together a core team of 10 individuals, including SV2 staff, board members, and community leaders, some of whom have previously been grantees. This process was an exciting opportunity that allocated funds and fostered valuable learning for everyone involved. It beautifully represented the strength of community engagement and transparency... It really helped us build the muscle for other equity work that followed."
Embarking on Learning Journeys
SV2 organized trips with donor partners and board members to meet with local advocates and visit farms in California as well as civil rights sites in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. "Many of the folks that have gone on this trip describe it with words like "life-changing" David shared. The immersive experiences helped the board and donor partners understand the ramifications of systemic inequities and the importance of equity and community involvement.
Building Trust & Inclusion in Your Organization
Nearly 49% of attendees were most enthusiastic about building on more "human-to-human" connections. These connections can be cultivated by intentionally adding informal time for board members to gather outside of the boardroom. BoardSource's Leading with Intent data states, "Boards that spend social time together report a more positive impact on the Board's organizational performance." David acknowledged, too, that power dynamics don't disappear in the boardroom, so taking intentional steps to ensure new community board members felt welcomed, creating space for new voices, and encouraging community board members to share their perspectives early in meetings fostered a culture of openness and learning.
Becoming Purpose-Driven
Some final words from David Onek for those who are wondering where to begin, “Wherever you are, just try to start the journey. There are all kinds of entry points that reinforce each other and just try to figure out where you can get started and go from there.”
BoardSource provides a PDBL conversation starter, for those who are looking to get started with their board. A reminder that this work is not linear; to become more purpose-driven, start asking questions and having more deliberations in the boardroom. Watch the full fireside chat and share what resonates with you—what have you tried, or what are you excited to try?
Photo courtesy of Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund
