It is essential to know the responsibilities and scope of each job before applying to join an organization’s board or director. A board that is functional will be more effective when the roles are clearly defined.
Nonprofit boards are usually made of volunteers who give their time to assist in the achievement of their mission and act as an governing body. In addition the board can also include committees that perform a significant portion of the board’s responsibilities and enhance the productivity and effectiveness of the board.
A typical structure includes a Fundraising Committee, Governance Committee (which decides on policies and programs), Finance or Audit/Risk committee, Nominating committee and other Ad-Hoc committees. However, each company might have a different committee structure.
Furthermore, the majority of nonprofit organizations have a President or CEO/Executive Director who performs a management function, and is not considered a member of the board of directors. Many people mistakenly believe that the roles of the CEO/President are identical. However the President’s job is one of governance, while the CEO/ED’s role is one of management.
The best way to attract members is to actively look for community members who have the knowledge, skills and networks to contribute to your organization. Nonprofits can find potential candidates by a variety, including a board matching program, networking events and platforms like LinkedIn. Nonprofits my latest blog post should also have a system for onboarding and training new members on their specific responsibility. Finally, nonprofits need to have strong board governance procedures and D&O coverage in place to help mitigate their risks and ensure their success.
0 Comments