board of directors

Being a New Board Member Can Be Intimidating

Being a New Board Member Can Be Intimidating

Posted in board of directors

Does this seem familiar? There is a participant who regularly takes part in the programs and services of the non-profit. They are a regular donor, contributing to fundraising campaigns. Eventually they start volunteering at events, selling tickets, and helping distribute promotional material....


Make it Easier to Meet Quorum

Make it Easier to Meet Quorum

Posted in board of directors / board meeting

Non-profits are legal entities, governed by a board of directors. The decisions a board makes, happen at board meetings. Decisions might be simple, such as approving the agenda, or complex, such as deciding employee wages. To prevent a splinter group of board members from meeting privately...


The Strategic Plan IS a Non-Profit’s Road Map for the Year

The Strategic Plan IS a Non-Profit’s Road Map for the Year

Posted in strategic plan / board of directors

The new calendar year has us all writing new year’s resolutions, spending some time reflecting on the past year, and making plans for the new year. We spend time in the office supply store sorting through planners and deciding the system we want to use to map out our goals for the coming year....


What do you do when a board member goes rogue?

What do you do when a board member goes rogue?

Has there been a time when a board member didn’t follow policy and no one, you or other board members, said anything? Has a board member reported tasks that they’ve handled when they were neither asked, nor given the authority, to handle those tasks? Has a board member been making decisions...


The Board Speaks With One Voice

The Board Speaks With One Voice

Posted in policy / board of directors

When a non-profit board is being developed and new members added, there is excitement to embrace the diverse perspectives of a wide range of stakeholders. But having many different voices at the table can sometimes make it challenging for a board to make decisions. If a board doesn’t...


Getting Started with Board Recruitment

Getting Started with Board Recruitment

Posted in board of directors / board committees

Your non-profit has done the work. You’ve got a nominations committee ready and willing to get to work finding new board members. There’s a team of other board members and staff helping to build a list of names of potential nominees and keeping a keen eye out for more names to add. But...


Nominations Committee

Nominations Committee

Posted in board of directors / board committees

On paper, its easy to have a full and complete list of potential candidates to join a non-profit board of directors. Doing the work of speaking to all those candidates can be a challenge. Who takes on this important job? Dumping the recruitment task on the same group of board members each year...


The Board Works for the Stakeholders

The Board Works for the Stakeholders

Posted in strategic plan / board of directors / stakeholders

The nominations committee is hard at work looking for new board members. But there are differing opinions. Some committee members want to look for accountants, and lawyers, and doctors to try and build a board of business professionals. Other committee members want to look to the...


6 Actions to Reduce the Stress of Being a Non-Profit Board Treasurer

6 Actions to Reduce the Stress of Being a Non-Profit Board Treasurer

Posted in board of directors / board positions

Perhaps the most avoided position on a non-profit’s board of directors is that of Board Treasurer. The Board Treasurer is responsible for overseeing all aspects of a non-profit’s financial system, from policy development to internal controls, from budgets to the annual audit, or from...


The Role of a Non-Profit Board Vice-Chair

The Role of a Non-Profit Board Vice-Chair

Posted in board of directors / board positions

A non-profit board has many tasks to handle, and if there is no paid staff team, that list can become quite long. While the Board Chair is the leader of the board, the job is usually too much for one person. That’s where the role of Vice-Chair (Vice-President, etc.) becomes important. The level...


The Role of a Non-Profit Board Chair

The Role of a Non-Profit Board Chair

Posted in board of directors / board positions

Non-profits are complicated entities. There are strategic priorities to fulfill, board meetings that need to follow protocol, and often a team of volunteers who are helping to do the work. In a small non-profit, with few, or no, employees, the Board Chair is a critical position for...


A Better Way to Address New Business at a Board Meeting

A Better Way to Address New Business at a Board Meeting

Posted in board of directors / board meeting

A non-profit board meeting traditionally has a few recurring agenda items such as approving the previous meeting minutes, committee reports, old business, and new business. The terms old business and new business are closely tied, and confusion can arise trying to figure out what items are...


How to Schedule a Board Meeting

How to Schedule a Board Meeting

Posted in board of directors / board meeting

It can be hard enough to schedule date night for two people already living in the same house. Now consider how hard it might be to schedule a meeting for 10+ people, all with different work schedules, different family demands, different levels of engagement, and…they don’t get paid...


Board Members Can Only Wear One Hat at a Time

Board Members Can Only Wear One Hat at a Time

Posted in board of directors / board positions

The board of a non-profit does its job by taking a strategic leadership role, not an operations role. That doesn’t mean a board can’t also handle the day-to-day work if there are no paid staff. Confusion happens because its hard to understand how board members are both strategic leaders...


Governing Policies That Grow with A Non-Profit

Governing Policies That Grow with A Non-Profit

Posted in policy / board of directors

A non-profit has so many components, from the board’s governing function to the staff’s running of programs and services. The board is both accountable to its constituents while simultaneously responsible for delivering on its promised strategic plan. That’s a lot to ask and even more to...


Two Documents to be a Stronger Board Member

Two Documents to be a Stronger Board Member

Posted in board of directors / board meeting

The holidays are a great time to relax and unwind with family and friends. But if you’re a non-profit board member, it can also mean an extended period that you are away from a regular board meeting. Governance skills can get a little rusty. When a meeting is finally called, and maybe the...


Board Committees

Board Committees

Posted in board of directors / board committees

As the executive director of a non-profit, much of our work is to support the board of directors. But make no mistake, the board has its own work to do. How does the board do that work? A non-profit board operates as a collective group. No individual board member has the authority to make...


Governing

Governing

Posted in strategic plan / board of directors

This month we’re talking about the four kinds of non-profit documentation every board member should understand and how each one connects to the next. So far, we’ve covered Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Now its time to talk Governing Policies. Governing Policies are created and used by...


The Long Game

The Long Game

Posted in board of directors / board positions

Last week I talked about a board term, the set length of time a volunteer holds a position as a board member before having to run for re-election. This week, I thought we’d talk about the total number of terms a board member can hold. Let’s recap, a wee bit. Last week when we talked about...


On Good Terms

On Good Terms

When a volunteer considers joining a board of directors, one of their first consideration is the length of the term.  What does that mean, TERM? A board term is a set length of time the volunteer holds a position as a board member before having to run for re-election or leave the board....


Who Is the Boss

Who Is the Boss

Non-profits have different structures and different groups of people who handle different tasks. So how do you tell who's the boss? Well, it doesn't really work like that in a non-profit. There is no one person who is the single head boss. There is however a structure that non-profits follow....


Bylaws vs. Policies

Bylaws vs. Policies

Posted in policy / board of directors

When your non-profit first started, bylaws were created following the guidelines outlined in your provincial act and regulations. Your bylaws likely include items like the types of memberships you offer, the number of board members you must have, and the kind of activities your organization...


Board Confidentiality Agreements

Board Confidentiality Agreements

Posted in board of directors

Years ago, at a board meeting, there was a pretty robust discussion about a hot topic. As the executive director I wanted my board to have all the background info to make an informed decision, so I spoke frankly and provided a lot of detail, thinking it would be kept confidential. Fast forward...


A More Flexible Board Meeting

A More Flexible Board Meeting

Posted in board of directors / board meeting

A board meeting is more flexible than most people realize. Sure, there are a few things that are necessary legal steps. For example, approving the agenda, approving the previous meeting minutes, and following the correct process for making and seconding motions. After that you can create a...


A Road Map for Non-Profit Boards

A Road Map for Non-Profit Boards

Posted in board of directors

I like road maps. I like knowing where I’m going even if I kind of already know where I’m going. Non-profits benefit from all kinds of road maps. The strategic plan is the king of all road maps. Then the operational plan, then individual work plans, and job descriptions, and policies, and,...