Abby Shue
Vice President
About Lindy Sayers
Lindy Sayers, originally from Nashville, traveled to Jackson Hole for years before calling it home. A dedicated board member of the National Museum of Wildlife Art, she credits the Institution with helping her find community in Wyoming. “It’s through the Museum that I found my place here in this community,” she shares.
Building a Stronger Bond
With a deep commitment to the National Museum of Wildlife Art and its mission, Lindy understands what it takes to be an effective board member. “We need board members who are eager, willing to share their wisdom, their time, and their treasure,” she explains.
That spirit of intentional leadership was the driving force behind the Museum’s decision to engage Benefactor Group for a governance assessment. As the Museum approached its 30th anniversary in 2017, it marked a natural moment to pause, reflect, and plan ahead. Recognizing that strong, engaged boards are the backbone of thriving nonprofits, the Museum was eager to evaluate and strengthen its boards’ performance. With previous experiences partnering with Benefactor Group, both the executive director and several board leaders knew who to call.
“As we continue our work with you (Benefactor Group), we’ve realized it’s the right thing to do, and I’m glad we did it. We’ve implemented every single recommendation,” Lindy says.
From Insight to Implementation
The governance assessment led to meaningful and lasting changes. A clearly defined leadership pipeline preserves institutional memory and ensures continuity. Committees were restructured to function more effectively, and the strategic plan began to play a more integral role in shaping the budgeting process.
One of the most noticeable shifts came in the recruitment, onboarding, and engagement of board members. Orientation is now standard for new members, and a recently launched mentorship program fosters deeper and long-term engagement. As Lindy reflects, “I guess the thing that feels the best is that we’re not a bunch of people riding off on horses alone.”
Meetings have also become more collaborative and purposeful. “If I watched a video of when I first came on the board and one now, there’s a lot more discussion and conversation now than there ever has been before. And everyone is on the same team generally rowing West.” Regular meetings among executive officers ensure that each board gathering is thoughtfully planned and aligned with the Museum’s current priorities.
Partnership and Purpose
Behind the scenes, a strong relationship between the board chair and executive director sets the tone.
“It’s excellent. We have an executive director who is a rare bird—he is a lifelong learner,” Lindy affirms, “I do not micromanage. I’m not the boss. If I need advice, I go to him. If he needs advice, he comes to me.”
That healthy dynamic is grounded in clear roles and responsibilities and mutual respect. Board members review and sign a board member expectations document annually and select up to three committees to serve on and have the flexibility to rotate based on their interests. “It’s a little bit more complicated, but at the end of the day, I think we’ll have even more energetic committees than we’ve established in the past.”
Additionally, every committee now includes a staff liaison, which has helped build stronger connections between board and staff. “Our board members need to know our staff. Building those relationships takes time—but in the long run it saves time,” Lindy says.
A Strategic Legacy
Lindy’s advice to other boards is simple and compelling: stay focused on strategy. “The board’s job is strategic,” she says. “We’re responsible for strategic planning, for fiduciary work, for stewardship, for getting new people on the board. Sometimes boards get too caught up in the details and are not as strategic. I would say the most important thing about a board is to hold where its agenda is, which is in strategy.”
And for organizations considering governance work with Benefactor Group?
“You didn’t say you all need to build the Empire State Building by tomorrow afternoon. You said, try these things. That is what I think out of all the things that Benefactor Group does that I appreciate the most. You started where we are, and you’re helping us go forward, and I’m grateful.”
To learn more about how Benefactor Group can support your nonprofit organization’s governance work, contact Abby Shue at [email protected].
