About Me
Biography:	Nancy A. Gaston has almost twenty years experience in volunteer resources management. She has been a high school teacher and has directed a volunteer-staffed crisis line, a volunteer chore service, and a volunteer center. She was also Director of Christian Development—a position combining volunteer ministry and the educational program--for a faith congregation. She is past chair of Region X (Pacific Northwest) of the former Association for Volunteer Administration (AVA) and past President of AVA. She is now a trainer and consultant with her own business, Gifts Differing. Besides keynoting and presenting regularly on volunteer resources management, meeting management and leadership at regional, national and international conferences, Nancy is a retreat leader, trainer and consultant for many church groups on spiritual formation, spiritual gifts and personality, and lay ministry programs. She also works as a facilitator for nonprofit and governmental boards and advisory councils. Nancy also has been an adjunct faculty member of Portland Community College, Marylhurst University and Washington State University, Vancouver. Educational background includes a degree in English with certification in secondary education from Eastern Michigan University and a degree in theology from McGill University, Montreal. She is certified as a Human Behavior Consultant and trained as a consultant in lay ministry. Nancy is also a Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA), a performance-based credential. She has edited numerous newsletters and magazines and has had articles printed in more than a dozen publications and chapters in three books. She enjoys reading, writing and walking in her leisure time. Volunteer work includes serving on nonprofit boards, mentoring high school Advanced Placement classes, teaching Junior Achievement classes and being a “lunch buddy” to a second grader. Nancy and her husband, Mike, have three grown daughters scattered around the country, and a cat, Sam, who lives in (and rules) their home in Vancouver, WA.
About Me

Joanne Oppelt a year ago New Jersey Offline

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Articles by CharityChannel Members

CharityChannel members who have years of experience in their field may apply to join a Contributor's Panel. Once accepted to a panel by the panel's editor, the member will work with the editor to determine article topics and to prepare an article that is ready for publication. With tens of thousands of colleagues in the CharityChannel professional community, this is a key opportunity to give back to your profession by sharing your hard-won expertise and wisdom.

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Background Checks for Board Members: Paranoid or Prudent?

Contributed by: Nancy Gaston

Wednesday, April 10, 2013 (34 days ago)

A decade ago I resigned from the board of a small nonprofit. Because the treasurer was providing vague and inconsistent financial statements and couldn’t seem to answer my questions, I was uneasy about serving. Just weeks later I opened the local newspaper to find the treasurer’s picture on the front page. She’d been arrested for embezzlement. Would criminal background checks of prospective board members have prevented this situation?


Hat Trick: Six Thinking Hats Aid Board Decision Making

Contributed by: Nancy Gaston

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 (243 days ago)

Using the “Hat Trick”  is a very creative yet functional way to facilitate board deliberation and decision-making. Learn how your board can use the six hats to be more effective!

Casting Call: Getting the Right People for the Roles on your Board

Contributed by: Nancy Gaston

Wednesday, January 19, 2011 (2 years 116 days ago)

Too often, boards become ingrown through asking friends or colleagues of current members. One Executive Director reported that a local Rotary Club practically adopted her small nonprofit, with almost all the board members also belonging to that service club. Fundraising and publicity suffered because they all knew the same circle of people....

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