In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney speaks with Jennifer Wise, Vice President for Regional Development in the Southeast for the National MS Society. Jennifer brings more than twenty years of experience in fundraising, volunteer leadership, and organizational development, and she shares a thoughtful look at what it takes to build strong boards and activate them in meaningful ways.
Jennifer begins by reflecting on her leadership journey across higher education, Habitat for Humanity, and the MS Society. She highlights the mentors who shaped her, the importance of being both a learner and a teacher, and her commitment to building people centered teams.
The conversation then turns to board recruitment, board engagement, and the growing role of boards in corporate relations. Jennifer outlines practical tools and strategies that any nonprofit can adopt, including the use of board matrices, mentorship programs, clear expectations, and intentional systems that help trustees feel confident, connected, and ready to lead.
Listeners will hear how her chapters strengthened their work with corporate partners by breaking the process into simple steps, providing clear templates and support, and creating space during board retreats for trustees to take action together. These efforts produced new connections, new partnerships, and a more engaged board culture.
Topics include
• What strong, balanced boards look like in practice
• How to use a board matrix to guide intentional recruitment
• The power of mentorship, retreat time, and peer engagement
• How mission moments strengthen trustees’ connection to the cause
• Why small, specific action steps lead to better board involvement
• Building board supported corporate relationships that actually work
• How regional collaboration can reduce silos and expand opportunities
• Practical advice for organizations hesitant to involve trustees in corporate outreach
A grounded and practical episode for any nonprofit aiming to build a stronger, more engaged board and deepen its partnership work with the corporate sector.
Listen and subscribe for more conversations on leadership, strategy, and the future of nonprofit work.
