360° Snapshot Additional meetings are likely to take place throughout the year so board members can discuss and make other … The board should periodically review the chief executive’s performance, and has the authority and responsibility to replace the CEO if necessary. Active governance as a board member involves: Reviewing the mission statement and goals of the organization on a regular basis, If the organization has paid staff, hiring the executive director and reviewing his or her job performance, Reviewing the organization’s budget and keeping well informed of its financial situation, Setting, evaluating, and — if necessary — revising policies, Serving as an ambassador for the organization — making more people aware of its work, Recruiting additional board members and volunteers. The nonprofit advisory board is not like the board of directors. Conversely, they struggle most with external responsibilities, including fundraising, advocacy, and … A board of directors is the guardian and ultimate protector of a nonprofit. Your Board is responsible for determining the mission of the organization. Manage Resources Effectively7. If your Board members and staff aren’t clear about the Board’s responsibilities, the nonprofit is set up for a big mess. They should also help create new programs and services that accomplish your mission and help raise the funds to keep your dreams alive. Determine the Organization's Mission and Purpose2. All board members should be involved in fundraising in some capacity during the year. The Board should make sure the organization has a system for keeping accurate records in case they are requested by government agencies or donors. Try to find them a place to help where they can excel instead of asking every Board member to do the same job (which won’t work). The Board should create a clear process for conducting this evaluation and identify specific Board members to carry out the evaluation on behalf of the entire Board. If there are issues or conflicts, you and your Board members might find that an outside consultant can be a lot of help in facilitating the assessment. Frances N. Phillips is program director for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund at the Walter and Elise Haas Fund in San Francisco. 2. Ensure Legal and Ethical Integrity and Maintain Accountability. For instance, they may create a policy that requires two signatures on the back of a check to make sure that no one person can remove money from the bank account. Good faith is shown by honesty and faithfulness to duties and obligations. Everyone should be very clear about when and how evaluations should take place, preferably done at the same time each year. Presides at meetings of the board and executive committee Appoints chairs of committees and task forces The board is responsible for policymaking, while employees (and to a certain extent, officers) are responsible for executing day-to-day management to implement board-made policy. Ultimately, your Board is responsible for making sure that the nonprofit is in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. Every Board member should be familiar with your organization’s bylaws and adhere to them. That can mean things like submitting annual corporate paperwork to the state, submitting revenue/tax information to appropriate agencies (in the US it’s the IRS), and renewing solicitation permits. This is all done t… Unfortunately, most people who serve on nonprofit Boards have no clue what they’ve gotten themselves into. Enhance the Organization’s Public Standing. 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