Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas Maintaining a Board of Directors

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Maintaining a Board of Directors


What is a Board of Directors?

• It is often:• A watchdog• A cheerleader• A manager• A planner• A communicator


The governing group that governs an organization is

called:• A Steering Committee.• An Executive Committee.• A planning group.• Trustees.


Why should you maintain a strong Board?

• It ensures that the mission of the organization will continue to be well understood by those who are in a position to further it.

• It helps to pave a smoother relationship between paid staff members and the Board.

• It helps to keep the Board from getting into legal problems; and helps to extricate it if it does.

• It paves the way for easier fundraising for the organization.

• It helps ensure a steady supply of new Board members, the lifeblood of most nonprofit and small community organizations.


How do you maintainan effective

Board of Directors?


1. Develop a system to assist Board members in understanding the Board and their roles on it.

• Making sure Board members have a clear, written understanding of the way things are and why

• Furnishing clear job descriptions for members2. Design a process for welcoming, training, and mentoring new members.3. Maintain a healthy, effective relationship with paid staff.• Inviting staff members (and even interested volunteers) to meetings.• Making sure the staff is getting the support they need.• Creating other opportunities for the Board to better understand the

work done by staff members.


4. Hold effective meetings.• Try an unconventional place to meet.• Make sure new members have the opportunity to get to know one

another.• Put together a readable, relevant, interesting Board packet• Bring in experts.• Make sure everyone says something during the meeting.5. Maintain a sensible work level for Board members.• Try to maintain a balance for staff responsibility6. Develop a policy for dealing with urgent matters between meetings.• Popular ways often include:• Phone trees -- these are especially helpful for small, local Boards.• Communication by E-mail can be a lifesaver for larger groups that are

spread out geographically.• Having a designated "point person" who distributes information to

everyone.• Developing a small internal newsletter to be sent out to Board members

regularly or as needed.


7. Define terms of membership.• How will you choose your officers?• Will your Board be staggered?• Will your Board have term limits?• How will you ensure a diverse membership?8. Be aware of state and national laws that will affect the Board and the

organization.• There are many different laws that will determine what you can or

cannot do.• Have a lawyer familiar with nonprofit law as a Board member.• Remember you want to know the rules before you play the game.9. Develop and maintain a conflict-of-interest policy.• Review the policy.• Sign a paper that acknowledges that they have read and will comply

with the policy.


10. Organize an annual retreat.• Evaluate the Board's work over the past year.• Ask the Board to decide the year's agenda.• Offer Board members which organizational programs or community

issues they'd like to learn more about over the coming year.11. Have regular (if infrequent) formal evaluations. • Discuss how things are going both among the Board as well as with

the organization the Board serves.• Look at the organization's by-laws.12. Celebrate your accomplishments!

Documents

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas Maintaining a Board of Directors