Good governance is crucial to the long-term viability and leadership of nonprofits. Not all nonprofit boards are well-run. A poorly managed board could even cause the organization’s failure. It doesn’t matter if your organization is beginning its journey or has been around for a while now, ensuring the effectiveness of your board can help it face challenges and make it a long-term success.
The most crucial function of a nonprofit board is developing a strategic vision. The nonprofit board must be selected by members that are willing and willing to commit the time and energy needed for this task. This requires a thorough selection process to select a mixture of diverse backgrounds and expertise. It is important to provide education and support for both new as well as veteran members of the board when they collaborate and make top-level decisions for the organization.
If the board has a strategy for tasks the board should be able to trust the executive director to handle the day-today operations of the organization. Nonprofits must avoid relying solely on board committees to handle operational tasks, as this can lead to a lack of accountability and inefficient decision making.
If a non-profit board doesn’t have a CEO who is an official, it is often operating under the Cooperative Government Model. This is a highly-democratic model that allocates power among board members. It is most effective when board members are able to show a similar commitment to the organization and the ability to hold each other accountable for their actions. To reduce conflicts of interest the non-profit should draft a well-written policy on conflict of interest, and then discuss the policy with board members frequently.