1. Presented by: Frank Nieboer flnfranknieboer@gmail.com
3 R’s of a Successful Board-ED Partnership Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships
Presented by: Frank Nieboer

2. Essential Influences The Board governance model
The size and complexity of the organization
The management style of the staff
The skill levels of the Board and staff

3. Essential Partnership Ingredients
Complementary roles where work is inter-dependent within a consensus framework, the keys are:
Shared vision, mission, values, strategies, outcome expectations
Clear roles and responsibilities, executive limitations
Effective communications
Mutual respect

4. Common Pitfalls Board meddling in operations
Lack of clarity around strategies priorities
Lack of clear limits and authorities
Poor internal and external communications
Ineffective Board committees
Lack of or dated Board policies
Conflicting leadership messages

5. Board Ownership The Strategic Plan The Budget
The Bylaws and Board policies
Risk Management
The Executive Director

6. Policy Governance Board
The Board has only one employee, the Executive Director
The Executive Director is responsible for the entire staff and operations

7. Policy Governance Board
(con’t)
The Board formulates the Vision, Mission, Values, Objectives, Strategic Priorities
The collective Board and the Executive Director are colleagues
Has an effective Committee structure

8. Responsibilities of the Board
Ensure the organization meets the needs of the people it serves
Develop the strategic plan
Financial, budgets, monitoring, liquidity
Risk management
Hire, evaluate, give authority and resources to the Executive Director

9. Responsibilities of the Board
(con’t)
Ensure the financial health of the organization
Fundraising(?)
Maintain accurate and complete records of all meetings and operations of the Board
Establish limits and executive guidelines for contracts and signing authorities
Ensure the organizations meets its legal requirements

10. Responsibilities of the Board
(con’t)
Evaluates its own performance
Is effective in its agenda management and its own work plan
Provides for Board member orientation, training, and succession, proper skill sets
Responsive to its “owners”

11. Responsibilities of a Board Member
Be active, involved, and participate
Be involved in at least one Board committee
Know the lines of communication and reporting relationships
Actively participate in Board member recruitment
Be informed and prepared for all meetings
Maintain Board confidentiality

12. Legal Obligations of Board Members
Mismanagement
Failure to plan, receive reports, manage
Self Dealing
Cannot receive personal gain! - perception as well as the reality

13. Legal Obligations of Board Members
(con’t)
Proper Records
Know that all legal requirements are met
Personal Conduct
Register all dissents on the record!!!

14. Financial Obligations of Board Members
Boards have a fiduciary responsibility
Board members must be familiar with budgets and financial reports
Who is authorized to sign cheques, contracts – e.g. executive limitations, banking authorities
Ensure proper audit processes are followed
Ensure all remittances are made to CRA

15. Executive Director Responsibilities
Manages the day-to-day operations
Formulates all operational policies
Prepares the budget
Hires, evaluates, supervises all staff
Reports to the Board
Implements and reports on the Strategic Plan
Is ex-officio, with voice but no vote. on the Board and all committees

16. Board Committees - Purposes
Are appointed by the Board to do Board work
Formulates Board policies for approval
Completes the preliminary work prior to the Board decision
A recruitment tool for future Board members
May assist in specialized functions

17. Board Committees Core Human Resources Board Development Finance/Audit
Others Possible e.g.
Executive
Fund Development
Etc.

18. Board Committees Terms of Reference
Name, purpose, reporting
Membership, who chairs, how many, how appointed, term of office, staff liaison
Work plans
Meetings and quorum
Budgets

19. Keys for Success Have a shared strategic plan
Have clear communication policies
Clear and defined Board roles, volunteer roles, staff roles
Clear job description for the ED and evaluation process
Effective Board Charter and policies

20. Final Food for Thought “Some men lie all men die put it in writing”
“Everything that is not permitted is forbidden OR Everything that is not forbidden is permitted”