News & Forums
August / September 2024
2024 NCBF ANNUAL MEETING
The 2024 Annual Meeting of the National Conference of Bar Foundations held in Chicago from July 25-27 was nothing short of spectacular! From dynamic programming to the vibrant city vibes, Chicago proved to be an amazing destination. Huge shoutout to the Illinois Bar Foundation for being such gracious hosts and making our time unforgettable!
One of the standout sessions was led by the incredible Elizabeth Derrico: Maximizing Board Engagement. This insightful discussion centered on re-engaging board members in our post-Covid world, sparking plenty of fresh ideas and inspiration. Whether you were with us in person or couldn’t quite capture every golden nugget from the session, we’ve got you covered! Here’s a quick rundown of the key takeaways:
National Conference of Bar Foundations
The Engagement Menu
What are your appetizers? (Think bite-sized chunks.)
- Donate a local restaurant/store gift card for auction or raffle.
- Make a personal donation.
- Write thank-you notes to donors.
- Ask board members for their special skills and what lights them up that can support the organization.
- Send snacks to board members for virtual meetings.
- Deploy board members as social media ambassadors during fundraising campaigns and for events.
- Invite executive director to local bar event.
- Ask board members for potential donors.
- Bring a friend to an event.
Assign a greeter at an event to welcome first-time attendees and introduce them to others. - Wear your lapel pin on a Zoom call and to an event.
- Invite volunteers, fellows, donors for one-on-one coffee.
- Provide testimonials about why you serve (for use on social media, website, etc.)
- List Board affiliation on LinkedIn.
- Become a Life Fellow
- Come to the annual luncheon.
- Share social media posts and “like.”
- “Why I give . . .“ testimonial.
- Make thank-you calls.
What are your entrées? (Think the biggest commitment.)
- Chair a committee or serve as an officer.
- Ask a board member to do a site visit to a grantee. [A fellow, too?]
- Pay for officers to attend national conferences.
- Join Justice Society, Giving Circle
- Host an event in your home or firm.
- Talk to other groups [Rotary, Chamber] about the work that we do.
- Ask colleagues to attend events or donate.
- Make a legacy gift.
- Big Board Buddy match-up, with “old” board members with new board member to show them at the event or next meeting.
- Board comes up with a fundraiser or programs & they execute on the idea. (Spread work around.) Differentiate between benefitting the organization and being sponsored by the organization.
- Visit a grantee in your area.
- Have Board members present the results of their fundraiser or program at our annual fellows dinner or at the annual meeting.
- Ask each Board member to make a presentation about the bar foundation during a CLE or other presentation or an article in the bar journal.
- External ambassadors to new sponsors, donors, new event guests, and new volunteers.
- Plan a district event.
- Attend an event and annual luncheon.
- Make an intro to 10 donors.
- Recruit one or two agencies to apply for grants.
- Appear in video presentation about the foundation.
- Speak on a podcast about the foundation.
- Recruit a law firm sponsor.
- Board retreat facilitated by an outsider.
What are you serving for dessert? (What is the icing on the cake?)
- Add the foundation logo to the signature line.
- Volunteer appreciation.
- Champion liaisons to other [law-related] entities.
- Acknowledgement and gifts for Board members. [Personal, local.]
- Serve as an officer.
- Make a legacy gift and ask others to do so.
- Cultivate fellows for leadership (Board service).
- Meeting like-minded, like-hearted people to create a sense of community with people who share your values and priorities.
- Recognize and thank volunteers on social media.
The best part of the NCBF Annual Meeting is always learning from your peers in the room. I encourage you to utilize these suggestions to maximize your Board’s potential!
2024 NCBF AWARD WINNERS
Our NCBF Excellence Award goes to Attorney Thomas D. O’Shea.
For the past 25 years, Attorney Thomas D. O’Shea of CGA Law Firm has been a vital force in raising critical funds for the York County Bar Foundation and a local community theatre through his unique blend of legal expertise and passion for theatre. Read Thomas’ story Here.
Our NCBF Partnership For Success Award goes to the New Jersey Bar Foundation.
The New Jersey State Bar Foundation (NJSBF) is a renowned organization dedicated to advancing the charitable and educational endeavors of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Through its mission to increase knowledge of the law and the legal system, NJSBF provides free, informative, and educational publications and programs to individuals of all ages across New Jersey. The belief that “informed citizens are better citizens” is central to their work. Read about the New Jersey Bar Foundation here.
MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS BENEFITS WITH NO CHANGE IN DUES!
As we come to the end of our fiscal year, I urge you to renew your Membership for 2024-2025 and enjoy the benefits and services NCBF can provide to you. Current and past members who have an online account, just log in, scroll down and renew at https://ncbf.org!!!
Membership in NCBF opens the door to a variety of resources that will help strengthen your foundation and enhance your performance as a foundation leader.
NCBF membership will put you in touch with:
- A network of experts: All members have access to Member Connect, an online resource that puts the collective experience of bar foundation executives and volunteer leaders at your fingertips.
- Essential information, including access to a “Members Only” area with a Forms Bank, Jobs Posting section, handout materials from NCBF meetings, and NCBF member surveys on the cumulative impact of bar foundations.
- Top-notch programming: Members have a low-cost registration fee or no registration fee to conferences and webinars each year with programming that speaks directly to bar foundation issues.
- Leadership opportunities: Members can grow in their careers by becoming involved with an NCBF committee or program.
- Recognition: Members are eligible to receive the NCBF Excellence Award and/or the NCBF Partnerships for Success Award, which honors the excellent work that your foundation is conducting within your community.
- Digital Newsletter: Quick tips and information to enhance your organization’s operations, in a format that is easy to share with board members and volunteers.
- NCBF membership as a bar foundation allows three people from each foundation to have login privileges to access all the membership resources.
We are a network of community leaders! Recommend us to other foundation leaders you may know. It’s easy to sign up at https://ncbf.org
Lastly, below is the current lineup of officers and board members making up the NCBF leadership for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
~ Beth McElroy
CLICK TO RENEW YOUR
NCBF MEMBERSHIP TODAY
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025
MEET OUR 2024 NCBF OFFICERS
Congratulations To The Recently Elected Directors Of The NCBF Board
- Dawn Hathcock, Executive Director, Alabama Law Foundation — First three-year term
- Laura Sanford, Foundation Development Director, Washington State Bar Foundation — First three-year term
- The Honorable Carl Butkus, Immediate Past-President, New Mexico State Bar Foundation — First three-year term
NCBF Members cast their votes to elect this slate of directors in July. They begin their terms September 1, 2024.
THE NCBF 2024 BOARD
OFFICERS
Baillie Milliken
President
Beth McElroy
Immediate Past President
Jennifer Castillo
President Elect
Sang Lee
Treasurer
Jessie Reeves
Secretary
BOARD MEMBERS
The Honorable Carl Butkus
Board Member
Hinda Carbon
Board Member
Dawn Hathcock
Board Member
Velda Hofacker
Board Member
Lori L. Keating
Board Member
Martha Madrid
Board Member
Laura Sanford
Board Member
Carey Shoufler
Board Member
Dr. Sharra Wagner
Board Member
DeLaine Ward
Board Member
NCBF WOULD LIKE TO FEATURE YOU
NCBF would like to feature the good work of bar foundations and their volunteers from across the country. If you have an exemplary program or volunteer you would like to feature in the Foundation Forum and NCBF social media, please let us know at info@ncbf.org.