Maverick Landing Community Services (MLCS) is dedicated to building an equitable community by uplifting and supporting families, promoting community health, and nurturing resident and youth leadership and creativity.
Since its founding, MLCS has served the residents of Maverick Landing—a mixed‑income community of 1,400 people—and the broader East Boston neighborhood through programs for families, children, youth, and digital‑technology learners. Its flagship Maverick Makers program helps children and teens build STEM skills and close the opportunity gap.
Challenge
MLCS engaged ESC to help its Board of Directors move toward a more sustainable governance model. The project emphasized strengthening the board, its governance structures and protocols, and its capacity for effective oversight. ESC was asked to provide board education focused on roles and responsibilities, financial management, and fundraising skill development, as well as to review key governing documents to ensure clarity and shared understanding.
What We Did
A Structured Process
ESC facilitated a structured process anchored by monthly meetings with the MLCS board chair and executive director, and by attending full board meetings to build relationships and ground the work in board dynamics. Working from a detailed work plan, ESC guided a step‑by‑step review of governance documents and policies, board composition and meeting structures, financials, training needs, and relevant best practices.
SWOT Analysis
SWOT analysis helped identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, leading to practical recommendations appropriate for an organization of MLCS’s size and stage.
Provide Financial Basics Training
ESC also oriented the new treasurer/finance and audit committee chair and the governance committee chair,and provided financial‑basics training to the board chair and executive director. Using the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Guide, ESC further educated the board on roles, responsibilities, and ways members can support fundraising through “non‑ask” roles and service on a strong development committee.
Establishment of a Governance
ESC supported establishment of a governance committee and drafted charters for both that committee and the Finance and Audit Committee. MLCS introduced new graphics explaining cash‑flow and reserve trends, and improved the content of financial reports. Pre‑board finance meetings became a standard practice.
Governing documents and pending actions
Working with a legal advisor retained during the engagement, ESC helped identify updates to governing documents, director roles and obligations, and organizational policies. ESC concluded the project by providing an outline of pending actions for the board to implement on a rolling calendar.
Results
MLCS is now well on its way to a board that is self‑governing, self‑sustaining, and effectively fulfilling its oversight and strategic roles while maintaining a strong partnership with management. Board collaboration strengthened, the relationship between the executive director and board chair deepened, and board meetings became far more productive. Board members gained clearer understanding of their roles, responsibilities, and pathways for contributing to fundraising.
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TESTIMONIAL
It was the best investment our organization ever made.
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