Call it a contract or an agreement, it’s an excellent idea to
have a written statement outlining your board members’
responsibilities and legal duties.
One of the most effective ways to accomplish productive meetings
— and strong governance — is to carefully design an agenda and
then closely facilitate to that agenda. At All
About Boards you’ll find valuable information and samples of
agendas, minutes, consent agendas, meeting management and
parliamentary procedure.
Follow this
link to an excellent article on board meeting minutes.
Unlike private businesses, nonprofit organizations are not
“owned” by anyone. Instead they are “owned” by the community:
chartered by the government to serve a public purpose. The board
of directors represents the community’s interests. The board,
acting as governors or trustees, is charged with protecting the
nonprofit organization’s public purpose. Nonprofit boards and
boards of private corporations are similar in that both are
responsible for the organization’s success.
Board Cafe
Archives With over 90 great issues in the archive, the Board
Café answers the most frequently asked questions about nonprofit
Board Governance.
BoardSource A national organization that
provides publications, individualized consulting and training
services to nonprofit boards.
The debate on term limits has been waging for decades, if not
centuries. So, there is no “settled” answer to this
question. But my own answer is very firm: term
limits—both for board members and officers—are a must. My
reasons underlying this answer are simple, and take into account
the arguments put forth by those on the side of no term
limits.
In this excellent article Blue Avacado’s, Jan Masaoka, draws on
discussion and review of dozens of evaluation instruments to
offer an evaluation process and an evaluation form that you can
adapt to your organization’s needs.
Board self-assessment aims to help a board do its job better by
improving members’ understanding of their roles and
responsibilities. Using these self assessment tools can
help your board become a stronger team, improve their problem
solving skills and increase their accountability.
Tailor these samples to your organization’s needs.
If your board leans heavily to the baby boomer generation it’s
time to explore the next generation. Read the BoardSource report Next Generation and Governance to see what other
nonprofit leaders are saying and doing to ensure inclusivity and
find new ideas, approaches, or questions to consider.
The M Word: A Board Member’s Guide to Nonprofit
Mergers, a study from CompassPoint, provides a road map
to a merger’s expectations, processes, and obstacles.
Special sections depict seven organizations’ actual merger
experiences, feature sample resolutions and worksheets, and
highlight the key roles executive directors play in a merger.
Also offers advice on how to close down an organization.
We express our gratitude to Wells Fargo for providing the funding
for our new website. The goal of this project has been to create
a highly accessible resource for all nonprofit organizations in
the region, providing information at the fingertips of executive
directors, staff and board members.
Wells Fargo has been a partner in the project from the beginning,
helping us to leverage the website grant into a regional resource
hub, and we appreciate their dedication.
What’s the Right Size for the Board?
from Board Cafe
Board Contracts
Help insure that your board members understand their responsibilities
Call it a contract or an agreement, it’s an excellent idea to have a written statement outlining your board members’ responsibilities and legal duties.
Board Meetings
Agendas, minutes, parlimentary procedures, and other issues
One of the most effective ways to accomplish productive meetings — and strong governance — is to carefully design an agenda and then closely facilitate to that agenda. At All About Boards you’ll find valuable information and samples of agendas, minutes, consent agendas, meeting management and parliamentary procedure.
Follow this link to an excellent article on board meeting minutes.
Fast Facts About Boards
Unlike private businesses, nonprofit organizations are not “owned” by anyone. Instead they are “owned” by the community: chartered by the government to serve a public purpose. The board of directors represents the community’s interests. The board, acting as governors or trustees, is charged with protecting the nonprofit organization’s public purpose. Nonprofit boards and boards of private corporations are similar in that both are responsible for the organization’s success.
Websites, eNewsletters & Blogs
All About Boards of Directors A comprehensive set of links to articles and advice.
Board Cafe Archives With over 90 great issues in the archive, the Board Café answers the most frequently asked questions about nonprofit Board Governance.
BoardSource A national organization that provides publications, individualized consulting and training services to nonprofit boards.
Board Job Description Samples
Free Management Library: Sample Job Descriptions for Board Chair, Vice Chair, Committee Chair, Board Member, Secretary, Treasurer
Governance Matters: Job Description for Board Members
Bridgestar: Board Job Descriptions: Board Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer
Board Development: How to Identify, Recruit, Orient and Assess Your Board
The National Council of Nonprofits offers this succinct overview of board development along with some great links.
Board/Staff Roles & Responsibilites
Who does what?
Are you wondering where the line is between staff and board responsibilities? Take this quiz and find out.
Term Limits for Nonprofit Boards
The debate on term limits has been waging for decades, if not centuries. So, there is no “settled” answer to this question. But my own answer is very firm: term limits—both for board members and officers—are a must. My reasons underlying this answer are simple, and take into account the arguments put forth by those on the side of no term limits.
Executive Director Evaluation Survey Form
In this excellent article Blue Avacado’s, Jan Masaoka, draws on discussion and review of dozens of evaluation instruments to offer an evaluation process and an evaluation form that you can adapt to your organization’s needs.
Board Recruitment
Wondering how to get new, better, richer, younger people on the board?
This Board Leadership Tool from Governance Matters offers excellent advice on how to recruit the board members you need.
Evaluating the Board
Tools for self assessment
Board self-assessment aims to help a board do its job better by improving members’ understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Using these self assessment tools can help your board become a stronger team, improve their problem solving skills and increase their accountability. Tailor these samples to your organization’s needs.
The Board of an All Volunteer Organization
Many people work in groups in which nobody is paid, everyone is part-time, and everyone can leave any time they want.
Youth Board Members
Can minors serve on a nonprofit board?
Youths represent a growing volunteer population for nonprofits and for some, a potential pool of nonprofit board members.
Benefits Generations X and Y Offer Nonprofit Boards
If your board leans heavily to the baby boomer generation it’s time to explore the next generation. Read the BoardSource report Next Generation and Governance to see what other nonprofit leaders are saying and doing to ensure inclusivity and find new ideas, approaches, or questions to consider.
A Board Members Guide to Nonprofit Mergers
The M Word: A Board Member’s Guide to Nonprofit Mergers, a study from CompassPoint, provides a road map to a merger’s expectations, processes, and obstacles. Special sections depict seven organizations’ actual merger experiences, feature sample resolutions and worksheets, and highlight the key roles executive directors play in a merger. Also offers advice on how to close down an organization.
Nonprofit Conflict of Interest
A 3-Dimensional View
This article by Jan Masaoka offers a nuanced view of conflict of interest issues.