Pictured: From left to right: Steve Roskamp, Jennifer Schembrii, Buzz Turner, Anthony Baldo, Ryan Denton, and Jose Flores. Provided photo.

So writes psychologist Carol Dweck in Mindset, a book that has influenced how I approach leadership and remains one of my favorite reads of the past decade. Dweck coined the term “growth mindset” to describe the belief that our abilities and qualities can be developed. During my years in nonprofit leadership, I have seen that the same principle applies to organizations and the boards that guide them.

A strong board embraces a growth mindset, all the while knowing it is only through discomfort that we grow. As a community evolves, an organization must grow by listening, learning, and evolving itself. To do that, it needs to understand both its strengths and its opportunities, then welcome people who bring new perspectives and capabilities to its work.

If you want the organization of the future, you must build the board of the future. Building a strong board begins with an honest assessment of its current state. What knowledge is already represented? What will the organization need as its work evolves to support emerging needs? Where could another voice widen the conversation? From there, the board chair, governance chair and CEO work closely to identify prospective members who can help prepare the organization for what comes next.

People often talk about finding board members who are a good “culture fit.” I prefer to think in terms of “culture add.” The right board members align with the mission and share an organization’s values while bringing something new that expands its thinking. They understand the community as it is today while also remaining curious about what it may need tomorrow. They also bring humility to listen before assuming they have the answers.

For a community foundation, choosing board members requires an especially long view. MCF exists to serve this community in perpetuity; as the only community foundation in Manatee focused on serving the County, we are building charitable resources that will benefit our neighbors long after any current board or staff member has completed their service. The leadership choices we make today determine how well MCF will show up for our community and respond to needs we cannot yet predict.

These ideas are especially timely as we celebrate the impactful contributions of three members who completed their journey on MCF’s board. Steve Roskamp served as board secretary and led multiple task forces and committees, and Jenifer Schembri invested over seven years of knowledge in charitable and estate planning—and remains an integral support to MCF in her role at Blalock Walters, P.A. As Board Chair, Buzz Turner helped lead MCF through its transition to becoming a fully independent organization. We are grateful for all they contributed during an important period for MCF.

To continue the work they helped advance, we welcome Anthony Baldo, Ryan Denton and Jose (Joe) Flores to the board. Anthony has spent more than 18 years helping families and philanthropic leaders manage resources with purpose as a leading financial advisor in the nation under the banner of JPMorgan Chase. Ryan combines more than two decades of investment experience with deep roots in Manatee County and a history of local service and excels in his professional life at The Milestone Financial Group at Morgan Stanley. Joe has devoted more than 30 years to helping families and business owners consider succession, charitable giving and the legacies they hope to leave currently practicing at Edward Jones after a remarkable journey that brought his family to the U.S. Each shares MCF’s commitment to connect people and resources, through strategic philanthropy, to build a better Manatee. They bring an entrepreneurial outlook, and they understand the responsibility of making decisions with the future in mind. I look forward to what we will learn from one another. It’s how we grow together.

It’s exciting to welcome new members, but good governance continues long after every seat has been filled, as organizations give board members the support they need to serve well. If you lead a nonprofit, invest the time now to consider what your board will need years from today. If you care about an organization in our community, ask yourself whether your own knowledge and experience could help advance its mission, and offer to support it with your time, talent, and treasure. Board service asks a great deal, but it pays back in spades, as a most meaningful way to invest in the place you call home.

Like an individual with a growth mindset, a strong board always looks forward and learns, together. It keeps learning, so it can better guide its organization and serve a changing community.

Veronica Thames is the CEO of the Manatee Community Foundation.

Pictured: From left to right: Steve Roskamp, Jennifer Schembrii, Buzz Turner, Anthony Baldo, Ryan Denton, and Jose Flores. Provided photo.