Nonprofit Board Orientation

A nonprofit board is the body which oversees your organization’s obligations and fiduciary duties, and guides it toward a sustainable future. They fund service providers make sure that your nonprofit is able to fulfill its mission and that it is managed legally and ethically, through the policies of governance and financial management. They also review the performance of the executive director as well as compensation and other important management issues.

Nonprofit boards are often comprised of people with connections to donors and other influential members of the community and who are committed to your cause and the goals it pursues. It is also important to find people who are detail-oriented, so that they understand the big picture and how the pieces of the puzzle fit together and the tasks that must be completed in each department and how it relates to the overall objective.

Board members should show an unwavering commitment to the organization and its mission and be ready to devote significant time and effort to meeting obligations. They must also be able to articulate their worth as a trustee and the consequences of the decisions they make. They should not be susceptible to gossip or rumor and they shouldn’t seek to win the favor of other trustees or staff members by playing the game of favorites.

It is essential that your new board members are aware of their responsibilities. numerous organizations have sessions of orientation to instruct new trustees about their fiduciary and legal obligations, as well as other governance practices. They can be led either by your executive director or board members.