Board Roles and Responsibilities

Overview

• Board members serve as fiduciaries guiding the organization towards a sustainable future.
• Responsibilities include governance, financial management, and ensuring adequate resources.
• Critical role in hiring and evaluating the CEO/executive director.

Responsibilities

• Foresight, Oversight, and Insight: Board members provide strategic guidance rather than managing day-to-day operations.
• Fundraising: Board members are essential in fundraising efforts.
• Advocacy: They play a significant role in advocating for the nonprofit’s mission.

Key Points about Board Members

• Most serve voluntarily without compensation.
• Adoption of a conflict of interest policy is crucial.
• CEO participation in board meetings is valuable but should be non-voting.
• Difference between "board of directors" and "trustees."

Legal Duties of Nonprofit Board

1. Duty of Care: Ensure prudent use of assets.
2. Duty of Loyalty: Prioritize nonprofit’s mission and manage conflicts of interest.
3. Duty of Obedience: Adhere to laws, regulations, and the organization’s mission.

Additional Roles

• Influence culture, strategic focus, effectiveness, and financial sustainability.
• Serve as ambassadors and provide guidance beyond legal obligations.

Practice Pointers

• Regular updates and resources available through newsletters and online resources.
• Importance of evaluating executive director performance.
• Building strong board/CEO relationships is vital.
• Fundraising includes making personal contributions.

Education for Board Members

• Importance of education about roles and responsibilities.
• Peer-to-peer learning is encouraged.
• Adequate insurance protection is necessary.

Additional Resources

• Governance practices and effective meeting tips available.
• State-specific resources for nonprofit board roles.

Disclaimer

• Information provided is for informational purposes and not to be construed as legal advice. Consult professionals for specific queries.