8 Basic Tips for Structuring a Non-Profit Board
Every nonprofit organization needs a board of directors. While specific responsibilities may vary due to the organization’s mission and its stage of existence, the roles and purposes of every board are similar.
Nonprofit volunteer boards must create their own structure, policies and procedures for governing the organization. Far beyond just meeting once a month, the board is responsible for developing its policies and terms of service.
Here are some tips for effective boards and committees:
- Make sure that all board members receive a written job description.
- Develop the year’s schedule of meetings a year in advance.
- Provide board members with meeting materials and agendas well in advance. Two to three weeks is optimal.
- Keep meetings focused, stick to the agenda and don’t linger on any one item longer than necessary. Briefer meetings are better meetings.
- Encourage all board members to participate in discussions.
- Take accurate minutes of all meetings and distribute to board members promptly afterwards.
- Require board members to serve on committees.
- Show appreciation of all volunteer board members by acknowledging contributions publicly, in newsletters, at meetings and in minutes.
Additional considerations for boards include the size of the board, the length of a board member’s term, and what committees are needed. Typical committees are Executive, Audit and Finance.
Tags: Non Profit Management