In this week’s episode of I 501(c) You: The Podcast for Nonprofit Board Members, we’re kicking off a special four-part series featuring nonprofit consultants. This series is designed to give board members an inside look at the expertise consultants bring to the table and how their insights can strengthen organizations.

Our first guest is Randy Scheid, founder of RGS Partners Consulting. Randy’s impressive career journey spans his time in the Peace Corps, his work with nonprofits, and his leadership as Chief Strategy Officer for the Quantum Foundation. He shares his path into consulting, offering valuable lessons on philanthropy, board governance, and the critical role of succession planning.

Randy and host Michael explore what makes an effective board member, the importance of long-term thinking for organizational sustainability, and how to approach leadership development. They also dive into how boards should evaluate new programs and balance strategic priorities without overwhelming their organizations.

Randy’s Linkedin

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing our Consultant Series

(00:30) Introducing Randy Scheid, Founder of RGS Partners Consulting

(04:30) What makes an effective board member?

(06:55) How do you articulate the role of the board?

(08:50) Board’s role in succession planning

(12:45) Board’s role in programming

(15:20) How do you know if a program is working?

(16:30) Program evaluation

(20:05) RGS Partners Consulting in 2025

(23:30) Recapping with Read