smARTstart

The functions of governing boards and trusteeship are receiving attention as never before in the wake of the media's spotlight on transparency and internal control issues in for-profit corporations. In both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, there is a growing acceptance of the notion that effective board governance determines organizational success. Leadership must come from both strong executives and strong boards that work together to fulfil a number of core responsibilities. BoardSource and other providers of best practices for boards summarize these responsibilities as follows:

• Define the organization's mission, vision and values
• Hire and support the Executive Director and regularly evaluate his or her performance
• Provide adequate financial oversight
• Secure adequate resources including personal contributions, fund raising, and in-kind support
• Manage resources effectively and ensure sufficient internal controls and accountability are in place
• Determine and evaluate the organization's programs and services against the mission and goals
• Service as an advocate to enhance the public image of and widespread support for the organization
• Participate in organizational and strategic planning
• Ensure the longevity of the board and organization by recruiting and developing new board members
• Perform an annual self-assessment to identify strengths and weaknesses of the board

Resources

1. New Nonprofit Nexus: 10 Responsibilities of the Nonprofit Board
2. Nonprofit Governance Suite 101: Board Responsibilities
3. BoardSource: Ten Basic Responsibilities
4. Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership: Core Functions of the Public Service Board