Board Orientation

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.

1. Lead the organization: provide overall leadership and strategic direction. This includes mission, vision and key goals.

2. Establish policy: be proactive in establish policies to guide the organization.

3. Secure essential resources: make sure the organization has the resources to fulfill the mission, vision and key goals. If the board has decided fundraising is a method to secure resources, the board must be directly involved until dedicated fundraising professionals are hired.

4. Ensure effective resource use: oversee financial and program metrics on a routine schedule.

5. Lead and manage the Executive Director: provide strategic direction, support, advice, and performance feedback to the ED on a regular schedule.

6. Engage stakeholders: actively help the organization develop and sustain effective ongoing relationships with key stakeholders such as clients, donors and funding agencies.

7. Ensure and enable accountability: regularly review internal systems and standards to ensure the organization remains accountable, ethical and effective in fulfilling its mission.

8. Ensure board effectiveness: board members evaluate themselves, each other, and the overall functioning of the board on a regular basis.

Don’t have a budget for board training? Try The Nonprofit Board Answer Book: A Practical Guide For Board Members and Chief Executives published by BoardSource and available as an eBook or hardcopy at any Saskatchewan Public Library via the Saskatchewan Information Library System.