Why Boards...Again? with Monika Kalra Varma and Kevin Walker

Wait, wasn’t Season 1 also about boards? Turns out there’s more to talk about. Can we talk about..? veterans Monika Kalra Varma and Kevin Walker join us to share why we’re revisiting this topic in Season 4, and how foundation staff can harness the potential of their boards to accelerate their missions and values. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the Northwest Area Foundation board’s decision to double its grantmaking dollars, an exploration of the "right" percentage of time CEOs and EDs should spend on board work, and tips and tricks to get the best use of your board members' limited time. References & Resources Monika shares the four principles of Purpose-Driven Leadership as defined by BoardSource, and a new resource: Authorized Voice & Power in the Board Room: Reimagining Governance to Fulfill Philanthropy’s Purpose. Kevin shares what it took for Northwest Area Foundation to double their grant dollars in 2025. Learn more in their video: CEO Kevin Walker—Doubled Funding for 2025 to Continue in 2026 00:00 Intro 03:40 Outlining Purpose-Driven Leadership 12:05 Northwest Area Foundation Doubles its Funding in 2025 19:01 Soapbox Snack Break 21:34 Investing Time in Board Work 25:53 Northwest Area Foundation's JEDI Commitment 30:06 Journal Prompts