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If you're thinking of trying to get onto a nonprofit board of directors, there are a lot of factors to consider. Here's a brief outline of what you may want to ask yourself and a look at the things you'll be dealing with once you do join.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Joining
- What are you really interested in? Nonprofit organizations are involved in many cultural and social service activities. If you're not certain what you're interested in, be open to a new interest.
- Where do you feel the most comfortable? Like other organizations, nonprofits have different management and oversight needs at different stages of their life cycle. What would you like most: A grassroots or start-up where you roll up your sleeves and do a little of everything? A founder-driven group with a strong leader? A transitional group where the organization is adapting to external changes or redefining its mission? A more-established board?
- Do you want to be a catalyst? Would you prefer implementing change? Are you more comfortable as part of a larger, established entity?
- What are your pragmatic requirements? Do you want your board near home? Near work? How much travel time are you willing to put in? Will you go into "difficult" neighborhoods? Can you meet during the day? In the evening? What about weekends?
Nonprofit Board Roles and Responsibilities
The fundamental role of a board is to define the organization's mission and establish policies for the activities to achieve. Specifically, boards:
- Approve programs and services. Once a year, the board should review the mission of the organization as well as organizational goals and objectives. The results become the operating plan for the next fiscal year.
- Approve financial statements. At its regular meetings, the board reviews a financial statement that reflects the corporation's fiscal status, up-to-date annual expense/revenue budgets, actual income and expenses and fund balances. The board is also responsible for having procedures in place to insure compliance with laws and regulations.
- Hire and evaluate the executive director. It is their responsibility to ensure that a competent CEO is hired and to replace that person if necessary. Supervising staff is the CEO's responsibility.
- Represent the public need and interest to the organization and represent the organization to the public. The public's viewpoint is heard and represented through the board.
- Ensure the proper resources for an efficient organization. Every nonprofit needs people, money, goods and services. The board must ensure that the organization's available resources are sufficient to accomplish the organization's purpose.
- Evaluate organization effectiveness. Typically, operating management will evaluate the individual programs or services, but it is the board's responsibility to ensure that the total organization is effective in achieving its mission.