Two Documents to be a Stronger Board Member

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 policy review and monitoring seem, well, a little dry, there is a risk for board members to default to the easy stuff – asking questions about operations.

Whether a board is a governance board (delegates management to the Executive Director), an operating board (handles all operations task because there are no paid staff), or a combination of both, a board meeting is a governance function first.

Governance skills can get a little rusty over the holidays.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that an operating board can’t talk about the work they need to do when they get to a meeting. But delving into operations before handling the governance component of the meeting, especially if you belong to a governance board, creates a huge risk of looking only at the minute details of operations and ignoring the big picture for the non-profit organization. That big picture responsibility is the board’s key job.

The board of a non-profit is legally responsible for so much more than deciding if a fundraiser should be a garage sale or a steak night. The board is responsible for representing the collective wants and needs of the stakeholders, translating those needs into strategic priorities, making sure those priorities are being met, and monitoring that it all happens legally, ethically, and with sound financial management.

If you are a board member, and it’s been a while since your last governing board meeting, there are two key documents you can use to get back into the governing mindset.

Strategic Plan

Re-read your strategic plan. You are likely already monitoring progress towards meeting your strategic goals, but a quick refresher of what exactly those goals are, will be an easy first step to get back into the governing mindset after the holiday.

Governing Policies

Governing policies are likely quite a bit longer than will allow for a simple re-read. Instead of trying to review the whole thing (but kudos if you do!) re-read the section that outlines the duties of board members, and if you have a little more time, also re-read the section that outlines what task are delegated to management (if you have a staff team).

The board of a non-profit is legally responsible for so much more than deciding if a fundraiser should be a garage sale or a steak night.

Jumping into a board meeting after the holidays with a clear understanding of your role as a board member and an even clearer understanding of what your role isn’t, will make you a stronger board member. It will save time and keep the meeting shorter because you won’t be talking about topics outside of your responsibilities. It will also protect you as a legal steward of the organization because you will be monitoring the right information and handling risks long before they become an issue.

To become a stronger board member or put a little extra shine on your already awesome governing skills, read through your strategic plan and governing policies. The more you know, the more you’ll shine.

Thanks for taking the time to read my ideas. My mission is to take the mystery out of running a small non-profit. If you know someone who needs to read this, why not grab the link, and share it with them. Let’s work together to make non-profit governance easier.

-Christie

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Hi, I'm Christie Saas, former board member, current Executive Director, and non-profit volunteer. I remember well, those early years when I lacked the training, the confidence, and the work-life balance to focus on becoming the best non-profit leader I could be.

Fast-forward past many bumps in the road, lessons learned, and you’ll find me still in the trenches, but a little wiser, a little calmer, and a whole lot happier. I love my work and I want to help you love yours too.

I created ChristieSaas.com to give you tools, tips, and templates to remove the mystery of learning to run a small non-profit. If you’re a brand-new non-profit leader, or a little more seasoned, someone who’s looking to make a meaningful contribution and still have time for a full life away from the job, you’re in the right place.

© Christie Saas 2022 All Rights Reserved

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