A nonprofit board supervises the organization’s fiduciary obligations and oversees its future sustainability. They ensure that your non-profit has the proper funding to fulfill its purpose and that it’s managed legally and ethically, by way of the policies of governance and financial management. They also examine the executive director’s performance, compensation and other key management issues.
Nonprofit boards typically include those who have connections to donors and other influential members of the community and who have a passion for your cause and its goals. It is also important to find people who are detail-oriented so that they can databoardroom.com understand the bigger picture and how all the little pieces fit together and also what needs to be done in each department and how it impacts the overall goals.
Board members should demonstrate an ardent commitment to the organization and its mission and be prepared to commit significant time and effort to meeting obligations. They must also be able to communicate their importance as a trustee and the ramifications of the decisions they make. They shouldn’t be prone to gossip or rumor and they shouldn’t be attempting to win the favor of other trustees or staff members by playing favoritism.
It is important that new board members are aware of their primary responsibilities. Many organizations hold orientation sessions to train new trustees on their legal and fiduciary responsibilities and other governance practices. They could be guided by your executive director or board members.