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I’m considering becoming the Chair of our non-profit’s board. Where should I start?   A board chair’s role is wide ranging, and even experienced Chairs have to spend time figuring out the needs of the organization, the leadership style needed right now, and what you are able to personally commit to the role. To find out the current needs of the organization, the Chair should ask questions of the Executive Director, the Treasurer, Past Chair, Governance Committee Chair, and ma

I’ve been asked to Chair our non-profit’s board, but I’m not sure I’m ready. What should I do? Chairing a nonprofit board is an excellent way to develop leadership skills, however this new responsibility also affects people in your personal life – your family, friends, and colleagues – due to the personal time commitment required. A Chair typically spends double the number of hours a year that a regular board member spends on board work. A personal reflection will help you de

What to do about inactive board members? Our nonprofit board has several inactive members. What should we do? The first place to look is at the board orientation and recruitment process. Were the expectations clearly communicated before or at the beginning of the board member’s term? If you are struggling with board member engagement, it is likely time to invest in a board orientation. Make sure to set your board up for success. Once the board orientation becomes a routine fu

I didn’t have a board orientation, what do I do? You aren’t alone, this is a common issue for nonprofit boards. Focus on the eight key responsibilities of nonprofit boards. Lead the organization: provide overall leadership and strategic direction. This includes mission, vision and key goals. Establish policy: be proactive in establish policies to guide the organization. Secure essential resources: make sure the organization has the resources to fulfill the mission, vision and

What Committee Structure Should We Have On Our Nonprofit Board?  Effective nonprofit boards conduct most of their work at the committee level rather than in board meetings. Committees may be standing committees, short-term committees that convene for a few weeks each year, or ad hoc committees that convene for a specific issue. While finance, governance and program committees are common to all nonprofits, as a nonprofit grows in organizational complexity, so must the committe

What is generative thinking?   Generative thinking is about seeing patterns, identifying key questions, and looking at situations from multiple viewpoints—not just approving plans or monitoring performance. It is about continually reassessing the current environment and asking how that affects the organization’s future. Boards use generative thinking to clarify organizational identity, values, and priorities. The goal is not to produce solutions immediately, but to frame issu

What Role Does Program Evaluation Have In A Nonprofit Board? Program evaluations are used by a board to assess success at fulfilling its...

What Should and Should Not Be Included In A Nonprofit Board Meeting Agenda? Your agenda should have information items, discussion items,...

Board Governing Modes - What Are They? The three main governing modes of a board are fiduciary, strategic, and generative. An effective...

What Is A Consent Agenda? A consent agenda is a section of a meeting agenda that bundles together routine, non-controversial items so...

My non-profit organization wants a grant. Now what? There are grants available for almost anything you can imagine, however, if your...

Nonprofit organizations, the backbone of social change, often need to adapt their policies to meet evolving needs and challenges....