WHAT EVERY NONPROFIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS NEEDS TO KNOW AND DO

BY WESLEY E. HARRINGTON, CAE

Nonprofit governance refers to the process of providing leadership, direction, and accountability for a specific nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization. 

Directors often struggle with finding the right balance in order to fully understand and respond to the challenge of leadership without becoming a micro-manager.  They often ask themselves (or, at the very least, they should be asking themselves) the following questions:

·       Am I doing the right thing?

·       Am I acting responsibly and ethically?

·       Am I making informed decisions?

·       Are my actions consistent with the will of the Board?

·       Is my decision-making process transparent?

Here, then, are ten (10) core responsibilities of leadership that every nonprofit board member needs to know and follow…

1.     Determine and articulate the organization's mission, vision, and core values.

2.     Recruit and select the organization's chief executive.

3.     Support and assess the performance of the organization's chief executive.

4.     Ensure that the organization engages in planning for its future.

5.     Determine the set of programs that the organization will deliver to implement its strategies and         accomplish its goals and monitor the performance of these programs to assess their value.

6.     Ensure that the organization has financial and other resources adequate to implement its plans.

7.     Ensure the effective management and use of the organization's resources.

8.     Enhance the organization's credibility and public image.

9.     Ensure organizational integrity and accountability.

10. Assess and develop the board's own effectiveness