Board members must have clear roles and responsibilities in order for the organization to be successful. The role of the nonprofit board centers on the fundamental responsibilities of providing the organization with sound governance, fiduciary and strategic oversight and direction. The resources in this section will further illuminate the various ways in which board members are entrusted with protecting and nurturing the organization.
Governance, Fiduciary and Strategic Oversight
Governance
Sample Work-plan Calendar
Having a year-at-a-glance document that outlines key activities for your organization can help keep things on track.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Board
A basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the board is a good place to start in any recruitment and orientation activities
Board Support Chart - Individual Self-Assessment
Shared by the Friendship Centers of Sarasota Florida, this chart gives board members an opportunity to look back at how they have supported (or not) your organization over the past year.
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Governance as Leadership - Summary of Board Behaviors
This resource briefly summarizes some of the key differences between Fiduciary, Strategic and Generative thinking in the boardroom.
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Four Realms of Board Responsibilities
In this document, Lee Bruder offers a different way of looking at board responsibilities.
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The Five Phases of Board Development
Boards of directors and boards of trustees are similar to other groups in that they go through various stages or phases of change. Certain aspects of each phase are critical to the successful development of the board and, therefore, the organization. Lee Bruder explores these phases and the key tasks of the board during each phase.
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Influence of the Lifecycle on the Role of the Board
The lifecycle stage of an organization often determines where the board is focused. This chart depicts the typical focus of the board during the various lifecycle stages of a nonprofit.
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Three Legal Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards
Lee Bruder shared with us this document on the legal duties of the board.
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Board Committees
Much of the work of the board is accomplished by standing committees or ad hoc work groups. This document describes several types of committees.
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Finance
Roles and Responsibilities of the Board
A basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the board is a good place to start in any recruitment and orientation activities
WhistleBlower Protection Policy
Adapt this template for a whistleblower protection policy to meet your needs.
Charter Sample - Finance Committee
Get this sample finance committee charter which includes a clear list of differences between the responsibilities of the finance committee versus the audit committee.
Top Tips for Hiring the Right CFO
Bringing on a new senior manager is a high-stakes, time-consuming venture. Whether you are replacing an existing CFO, adding a part-time CFO, or bringing one on for the first time, these tips from the J. Edgar Group will help you find the right fit for your organization.
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How to Know if You Need a CFO
How do you know if your organization is ready for a Chief Financial Officer? You may already have a bookkeeper, a tax accountant, even a controller and a finance team. So do you really need more horsepower in your finance department? The J. Edgar Group developed a few questions that can help determine if the time is right.
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10 Step Budgeting Checklist
Use this handy checklist to make sure you've covered all the bases in your budgeting plan.
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Assess Your Financial Strengths and Weaknesses
Use this worksheet to capture a snapshot of your nonprofit's financial strengths and weaknesses.
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Board Committees
Much of the work of the board is accomplished by standing committees or ad hoc work groups. This document describes several types of committees.
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Preventing Fraud
Fraud in nonprofits makes for sensational headlines and rattles public confidence in the organization. These tips will help make sure you have all the safeguards in place.
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Financial Questions Boards Should Ask
Use this list of financial questions as a guide to meeting your duty of financial oversight.
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Fundraising
Nonprofit Funding Models
There is no one-size-fits-all model of funding. This document reviews a number of models as identified in an SSIR article.
What Can I Do? Beyond Making the Ask
There is so much more to fundraising that being the person who "makes the ask." Share this list with your board members to help them engage more fully in the fundraising process
Roles and Responsibilities of the Board
A basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the board is a good place to start in any recruitment and orientation activities
Board Committees
Much of the work of the board is accomplished by standing committees or ad hoc work groups. This document describes several types of committees.
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Put Some Zip into Your Fundraising
Use this checklist of ideas to bring new life to your fundraising.
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Fundraising Roles & Responsibilities
This worksheet identifies the fundraising responsibilities of the board as a whole, individual board members and the fundraising committee.
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Reasons to Give to My Organization Worksheet
Complete this worksheet in the boardroom to help board members Think through and write down ideas to formulate their "elevator speech."
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Fundraising Quiz for Board Members
Take this board fundraising quiz to determine whether your board is as effective at fundraising as it wants to be.
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Fundraising Dashboard
Modify this dashboard with meaningful measures from your own organization to give your Development Committee or Board a good picture of their progress in fundraising.
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Board Fundraising Commitment Form
Use this form to give your board members more concrete ways to fulfill their commitment to support the organization.
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Strategic Planning
Nonprofit Funding Models
There is no one-size-fits-all model of funding. This document reviews a number of models as identified in an SSIR article.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Board
A basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the board is a good place to start in any recruitment and orientation activities
Mission Vision and Values
Get the basics about mission, vision and values and see some real life examples.
Is Your Nonprofit Ready for the Future?
Sometimes knowing which questions to ask is as important as knowing the answers. This resource offers 20 questions to ask about mission, revenue, reputation and infrastructure.
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Setting SMART Goals
This brief handout reviews the concepts behind setting SMART goals.
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Sustainability Matrix Map Worksheet
Steve Zimmerman has shared this interactive Excel Worksheet for implementing his Matrix Map.
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Board Committees
Much of the work of the board is accomplished by standing committees or ad hoc work groups. This document describes several types of committees.
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Strategic Planning Step-by-Step
Follow these steps for a smooth strategic planning process.
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Sample Implementation Plan
Healthy Eating Active Living NH shared their implementation work plan for their strategic plan.
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Sample Strategic Plan #2
The Taproot Foundation has shared their Strategic Plan.
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CEO Evaluation
Leadership Evaluation Template
This worksheet can be used to evaluation the CEO for small to mid-sized organizations.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Board
A basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the board is a good place to start in any recruitment and orientation activities
Sample CEO Evaluation - Basic
This quick and simple tool will provide a basic evaluation for your CEO.
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Sample CEO Evaluation - Expanded
This is a more in depth tool for evaluating the CEO.
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CEO Evaluation Sample Policy
Adapt this sample CEO Evaluation Policy to meet your needs.
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Executive Director Job Description Sample
Executive Director Job Description Sample Use this sample job description as a starting point for your own Executive Director Job Description.
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Succession Planning
A Leadership Transition Checklist
A list of some key documents and processes nonprofits should have in place in order to manage a leadership transition successfully
Roles and Responsibilities of the Board
A basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the board is a good place to start in any recruitment and orientation activities
Operations Inventory of Critical Functions for Succession Planning
Common Good Ventures offers up this tool to collect and organize all of the information critical to keeping our organization operating smoothly in the event of an unexpected departure of key leadership.
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10 Steps to Develop an Emergency Succession Plan
This resource from Common Good Ventures outlines 10 steps for developing your emergency succession plan before you need it.
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Chief Executive Emergency Succession Plan Template
Adapt this template for an emergency succession planning policy to your organization's needs.
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Board Committees
Much of the work of the board is accomplished by standing committees or ad hoc work groups. This document describes several types of committees.
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Succession Planning and Transitions
Even when it doesn't happen in an emergency situation, the transition from one leader to another should be planned carefully.
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Emergency Leadership Transition Sample Policy
Common Good Ventures shared this sample policy for emergency leadership transition.
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Responsibilities of the Board in Emergency Succession
Common Good Ventures offers up 10 questions the board needs to ask during an emergency transition in leadership.
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Job Descriptions
Board Treasurer - Role Description Sample
Adapt this Board Treasurer role description to meet your organization's needs.
Governance Committee - Role Description Sample
This Governance Committee Member role description sample will help you create or update your own.
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Advisory Board Member
Adapt this template for an Advisory Board member for your organization.
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Board Member - Job Description
This Board Member role description can be used as a template for creating your own.
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