Authenticity Consulting, LLC Nonprofit Capacity Building | Nonprofit Business Development | Peer Learning Programs Free Nonprofit Micro-eMBA(SM) | Free Micro-eMBA(SM) | Free Management Library(SM) Who We Are | Trainings | Publications | Contact Us Field Guide to Developing and Operating Your Nonprofit Board of Directors Table of Contents by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD Part I: How Do We Start a Nonprofit Corporation? What is a Nonprofit Organization? Nonprofit Compared to For-Profit Organizations Types of Needs Met by Nonprofits Primary Legal Forms of Nonprofits Typical Structures of Nonprofits Unique Culture of Traditional Nonprofits Starting Your Nonprofit Corporation What's the Purpose, or Mission, of Your Nonprofit? Consider Fiscal Sponsorship to Jump Start Your Organization What Help Might You Need? Name Your Nonprofit Recruit Initial Board Members Hire a Chief Executive? Draft Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws Conduct Very Basic Strategic Planning Conduct Initial Board Meeting For Review and Approvals Make Necessary Filings Checklist for Starting Your New Nonprofit Part II: What Are Roles of Board, Chief Executive and Other Staff? Variety of Boards and Materials What is a Board of Directors? Diversity of Board Structures Typical Life Stages of Boards Various Types of Boards Governance Documents Roles and Responsibilities of Boards of Directors Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of Board Members Board Committees (or Task Forces) Roles of Board Members and Officers (Job Descriptions) Role of Board Chair Role of Executive Committee Roles and Responsibilities of Chief Executive and Staff Chief Executive Officer Job Description: Chief Executive Officer Board/Staff Responsibilities Organization Chart of Board/Staff Relationships Part III: How Do Boards Do Their Work? Board Calendar (Schedule of Annual Activities) Strategic Planning: Direction for Nonprofit and Board All Else Flows from Strategic Planning Basic Guidelines to Develop Strategic Plan Sample Planning Process for Short-Term Plan Developing Your Strategic Plan Document Staffing the Board Adopt Board Staffing Policy Guidelines to Identify Potential Board Members Application Process Orientation to New Board Members What Board Members Need to Know Recognizing / Thanking Board Members Board Member "Retirement" Removing Board Member Frequently Asked Questions About Board Staffing Organizing Board Committees and Assignments Guidelines to Organizing Board Committees Chartering/Delegating Committee Board Committees Work Plans Guidelines to Making Board Decisions Foundations for Effective Decisions Guidelines to Consensus Decision Making Guidelines for Good Governance and Accountability Communications from Stakeholders (Inbound Marketing) Strategic Planning Board Development Programs and Services Human Resource Management Fundraising Advertising, Promotions and Public Relations (Outbound Marketing) Finances, Taxes and Facilities Accountability and Evaluation Ensuring Successful Board Meetings Key Steps to Plan Successful Board Meetings Sample Board Meeting Agenda Avoid "Sidebar Meetings" Summary Reference Sheet During Board Meetings Roberts' Rules of Order Board Meeting Minutes (Documentation of Board Meetings) Executive Session ("In Camera") Open Board Meetings Meeting Evaluation by Members Board Coordination with Chief Executive and Staff Ensuring Effective Board and Staff Relations Evaluation of Chief Executive Officer Sustaining Strong Relationship Between Board Chair and Chief Executive Ensuring High-Quality Board Board Retreats Board Training Board Development Board Self-Evaluation Ideas to Ensure Complete Participation of Members Guidelines to Mature Your Board Part IV: How Do We Hire Or Replace Chief Executive? Do You Need a Chief Executive Officer? Wrong Reasons to Hire CEO Right Reasons to Hire CEO Propriety and Public Relations Outgoing Chief Executive's Notification to Board Maintaining Confidentiality Board and Staff Preparation and Coordination Board Preparation Administrative Preparation Interim Coordination Between Board and Staff Hiring Chief Executive Selecting Chief Executive Orientating New Chief Executive Part V: How Do We Evolve Board to Next Level? Typical Challenge in Board Evolution: Personalities to Policies Typical Problem Among Small Organizations Some Troublesome Traits Among Founders and Boards Typical Traits of Well-Developed Leaders Basic Principles in Developing Leadership Actions Boards Must Take Actions Founders Must Take Actions Staff Might Take Appendices Appendix A: Glossary Appendix B: Free, On-Line Resources for Nonprofits Free Management Library(SM) Free Nonprofit Micro-eMBA(SM) Organization Development Program Organizations Assisting Nonprofits Free, On-Line Newsletters Appendix C: Useful Assessments Checklist of Nonprofit Management Indicators (Internal Analysis) Driving Forces Impacts (External Analysis) Appendix D: Typical Contents of Board Manual Appendix E: Guidelines to Form Advisory Boards Overall Benefit of Advisory Group What is Advisory Group? When Should Advisory Group Be Formed? How Should Advisory Group Be Defined or Organized? Appendix F: Sample Board Policies Sample Board Attendance Policy Sample Conflict of Interest Policy Appendix G: Guidelines to Working With Consultants Pricing for Each Board Guide Don't be the only expert Board resource in your organization! Make sure all of your Board members and your Chief Executive have this guide. $30.00 each. Updated May 2003, 189 pages. Comb-binding. Carefully Consider Getting Companion Guide for Executive Directors, As Well The Executive Director often is the person who first organizes the Board, and in many cases, helps the Board to do its job. Therefore, carefully consider getting the Field Guide to Leadership and Supervision for Nonprofit Staff. Having both guides will ensure that the Board and Executive Director are working "from the same page". Other Useful Nonprofit Publications Field Guide to Nonprofit Strategic Planning and Facilitation Field Guide to Leadership and Supervision for Nonprofit Staff Field Guide to Nonprofit Program Design, Marketing and Evaluation Get this Board guidebook, along with all of our other guidebooks listed above, at a discount in our Nonprofit Capacity Building Toolkit(SM). Other Authors' Publications for Nonprofit Organizations Bookkeeping Basics: What Every Nonprofit Bookkeeper Needs to Know Coping With Cutbacks: Nonprofit Guide to Success When Times Are Tight Venture Forth! Essential Guide to Starting a Moneymaking Business in Your Nonprofit Organization Strengthening Nonprofit Performance: A Funder's Guide to Capacity Building To Order Your Board Guides To Order and Quickly Receive Your Publication Note on intellectual property Authenticity Coaching Circles and Authenticity Training Circles are service marks of Authenticity Consulting, LLC, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Free Management Library is a service mark of Authenticity Consulting, LLC, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Copyright, 2000, Authenticity Consulting, LLC Return to Authenticity Consulting