Reading
Preparing for Leadership Transition More than 3,000 executive directors participated in Daring to Lead 2011, the third Daring to Lead national study with previous studies published in 2001 and 2006. The study indicated, that of those surveyed 67% of nonprofit executives anticipate leaving their positions within five years. The report makes a four step call to action to address this reality.
- Plan for successful transitions
- Advance understanding of nonprofit financial sustainability
- Expand and diversify the professional development options available to executive directors
- Find new ways to improve the performance and enhance the composition of boards.
Read the complete report...
Heading to a Nonprofit Board Meeting? Here's What You Need to KnowWhat exactly are you supposed to do at a board meeting? This article offers up 9 recommendations given to a new board member for his first meeting, many of which are sound advise whether it is your first meeting or your 50th.
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Sarbanes-Oxley and Nonprofits: Bogeyman in the Boardroom?This article from BlueAvocado.com outlines the limited ways that Sarbanes-Oxley is applicable to nonprofits. Learn more...
Role of Boards Critical During CrisisWhile the responsibilities of nonprofit board members do not change when the economy tanks, trying times do bring those duties into sharper focus. This article reviews some of the responsibilities that may get more scrutiny at times like these. Learn more...
Boards of Midsize Nonprofits: Their Needs and ChallengesNonprofit boards are increasingly a focus of those
interested in nonprofit accountability and transparency, including
policymakers, the media, researchers, and the public. Yet most of the research
has focused on boards of large nonprofits. The Urban Institue has published a
brief entitled Boards of Midsize Nonprofits: Their Needs and Challenges that
focuses on governance among midsize nonprofits, identifying certain problem
areas and suggesting strategies that trustees, managers, and others engaged
with midsize nonprofits may find helpful in strengthening their boards.
Disturbing Levels Of CEO Dissatisfaction With Board PerformanceWashington, D.C., May 8, 2008 -- Most heads of midsize nonprofits give their trustees low marks for fundraising and monitoring board performance, an Urban Institute study of nonprofits with annual expenses between $500,000 and $5 million has found. Sixty-two percent of the chief executive officers say their boards do a fair or poor job raising revenue and 60 percent assign similar marks for boards’ self-examination. Read more...
The Consent Agenda: A Tool For Improving Governance"A consent agenda can turn a board meeting into a meeting of the minds around the things that matter most. A consent agenda is a bundle of items that is voted on, without discussion, as a package. It differentiates between routine matters not needing explanation and more complex issues needing examination." This White Paper from BoardSource provides clear steps for effectively utilizing a consent agenda. Read more...
Meaningful Acts of Appreciation for Boards and Staff - 7 Do's and 2 Don't'sDespite admonishments to "give positive feedback," it often seems that efforts between board and staff of appreciation feel trivial at best, and even hypocritical or enraging at worst. What are some ways to express authentic appreciation that are meaningful to the recipient, and send the right message about values? Blue Avocado has some tips. Read more...
Resources
What should I know before joining the board?Board members have important legal and fiduciary responsibilities that require a commitment of time, skill, and resources. Board Source provides a list of some basic questions prospective board members before joining a board. http://www.boardsource.org/Knowledge.asp?ID=1.363
What questions should we ask our potential board members?
The objective of board recruitment is to find willing, able, and committed board members. How do you know if a candidate is going to be the right person for your board? BoardSource offers some questions to ask potential board members to help assess them for you board.
http://www.boardsource.org/Knowledge.asp?ID=3.188
The Board Glossary at BoardSource defines terms that board members should be familiar with. A great resource for new board members, particulary for those who have not served on nonprofit boards before.
http://www.boardsource.org/Knowledge.asp?ID=1.1016
What Information Should Board Members Have?
It is often difficult to strike a balance between not giving enough information to board members and providing so much that critical information gets lost in the deluge. Here are some suggestions from Baord Cafe about written documents the board should have. This is a good list for creating an orientation packet for new board members.
http://www.compasspoint.org/boardcafe/details.php?id=92
An Effective Board Manual
Getting all board members, especially new ones, on the same page is a challenge for all organizations. An effective Board Manual is one way to build shared knowledge about the organization. BoardSource offers some simple suggestions and a checklist for developing a Board Manual that will get your board on the same page.
http://www.boardsource.org/Knowledge.asp?ID=3.390
BoardSource provides
solutions and tools to improve board performance. BoardSource provides
assistance and resources through its Board Information Center, web
site, and workshops. http://www.boardsource.org/
Board Café is a newsletter for members of nonprofit Boards of Directors that
offers a menu of ideas, opinion, news, and resources to help board
members give and get the most out of board service. http://www.blueavocado.org/category/topic/board-cafe
From Compass Point : A Sample Board Member Contract
that can be a starting point for developing your own contract so that
all board members clearly understand and agree to uphold their
responsibilities. http://www.compasspoint.org/boardcafe/details.php?id=30
Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit BoardsFrom BoardSource: http://www.boardsource.org/Knowledge.asp?ID=3.368
Sample Job Descriptions for Board Officers and Commitee Chairs From managementhelp.org: http://www.managementhelp.org/boards/brdjobs.htm
Tips to Help Board Members Understand Their Fiduciary Duties From
the Chronicle of Philanthropy is a short article with practical tips to
help board members understand and carry out the fiduciary duties of
care, loyalty, and obedience. This is a great short article to
circulate among your board. http://philanthropy.com/jobs/2006/05/18/20060518-163287.htmMore on Fiduciary Responsibilities...Board Chair: Making Your MarkAn
article from Compass Point that can help a Board Chair figure out how to
approach this important role and set an agenda that leaves the board
and the organization stronger. http://www.compasspoint.org/boardcafe/details.php?id=3
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