Current Board Members
Balancing Mission and Accountability
As an organization grows, so does its culture of accountability. But, sometimes it seems that the focus is on the bureaucracy rather than on the mission. This article by BoardSource explains how your organization can strike a healthy balance.
Becoming a More Effective Nonprofit Board
Board performance is widely recognized as a critical ingredient in a nonprofit organization’s ability to achieve impact. This article explores the key elements of what effective board performance looks like, and how can nonprofit boards become more effective.
Board Members and Personal Contributions
Many nonprofit boards spend considerable time defining the board’s role in securing adequate resources for the organization, and board members’ personal contributions are an essential part of the discussion. This article from BoardSource discusses why board members should give, various giving policies, and more on the topic.
Board Orientation
Every nonprofit board has a culture that is defined by its customs, traditions, and practices—and every new nonprofit board member needs an introduction to that culture. Courtesy of BoardSource, this article shares the importance of board orientation and how a nonprofit can approach introducing new board members to their roles, other board members, and the organization.
Extreme Makeover: Nonprofit Board Edition
Like the featured stories in the chart-topping reality show, there are nonprofits that need more than a modest renovation. In this GuideStar article, Sue Dahling Sullivan, chief strategic officer of Citi Performing Arts Center, points out that often a complete rebuild begins with the board and offers tips on how to manage a board makeover.
Give New Board Members the Training You Wish You'd Had as a Newcomer
Steady opportunities to learn are crucial to the effective governance and successful performance of nonprofits. This article by BoardSource lays out a strategy for your board to set a deliberate program for board education to ensure that all members have the tools they need to properly govern.
Governance as Leadership: A Conversation with William Ryan
“Governance as Leadership,” a book published by John Wiley & Sons in October 2004, challenges traditional thinking about the role of nonprofit boards of directors with a new framework for understanding the modes in which boards govern.
How Should a Nonprofit Board of Directors Be Structured?
Every nonprofit board is responsible for creating a structure, policies, and procedures that support good governance. In this article, BoardSource provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about board structure and organization.
It's Lonely at the Top: Why Board Assessment of the Chief Executive is Critical to the Executive's — And the Organization's — Success
This article by BoardSource explains why boards should conduct the periodic assessment of the chief executive.
Size of the Board
Is there an ideal board size? Possibly, but the ideal size is likely to be different for each board. And each nonprofit board needs to define its optimal capacity at any given time. Here’s how to determine an ideal board size, from BoardSource.