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 maintain an 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 members

2. 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 responsibility 6. 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 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!