Prioritizing Innovation: Getting Your Board “On Board”

We’ve all been there…You hear about a new technology or solution that you’re pretty certain will help your nonprofit to grow but it has a price. Convincing your board and donors of the value of testing and trying new solutions can be challenging. Although prioritizing research and development are normal parts of for-profit innovation, nonprofits rarely follow suit.

In this episode, Katie talks to Maria Clark, the EVP of Partnerships and Chief Evangelist for GrowthForce about how we can not only prioritize innovation in our organizations. She also gives us insight into how to move new solutions across the finish line in terms of approval and adoption. 

Want more help getting your board on board with good ideas? Check out our Board Basics Series!

About Marie Clark

Executive Vice President, Partnerships, and Chief Evangelist of Good United

Maria Clark is a nonprofit executive and technology evangelist with 30+ years of industry experience. Today, she serves as Executive Vice President of Partnerships and Chief Evangelist for GoodUnited, the social fundraising solution. Maria is a champion of the new and has fearlessly led change management efforts throughout her career. 

 As EVP of Partnerships, Maria connects with nonprofit leaders to build social media fundraising strategies and solutions at scale. As the Chief Evangelist, Maria is leading conversations that elevate nonprofit leaders as champions of change. She’s working with nonprofits to build the next wave of fundraising on social media channels.

Previously, Maria spent 33 years at the American Cancer Society, a top #20 US nonprofit and the leading cancer research nonprofit with an annual $800M+ budget. Most recently, as SVP for Peer to Peer Development, Maria led strategy development and planning.  She also oversaw implementation for name-brand ACS events like Relay for Life, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, a robust gala and golf portfolio, and the Raise Your Way DIY platform. 

Maria lives with her husband Derek in Dallas, Texas, where she has a deep history with the nonprofit community. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Notre Dame School and remains active in the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association. Maria is the mom of two adult daughters, Devin and Corrie, and her fur baby, Ozzy.