Boards of directors, both nonprofit and commercial, or directors are vital to the success of any organization. They are fiduciaries who help to guide an organization toward sustainability through the adoption of ethical financial and legal governance and management practices. They also play a crucial role as advocates. Board members of non-profit organizations are essential to the organization’s culture as well as its effectiveness and its financial viability. They also help the organization raise funds and increase public awareness through many different ways.
Every type of nonprofit has a different board structure. Some nonprofits have a consolidated board structure, with one committee handling all governance issues. Others prefer to divide their governing responsibilities among committees that handle fundraising, finance and risks programs, human resources and other issues. These committees could be permanent (also called standing) or ad hoc committees conceived to address specific issues.
One of the most important things nonprofit boards can accomplish is to have regular training sessions on their responsibilities and roles. This could include training on governance, ethics, and legal issues, and a review of the organization’s mission and vision.
The job description must be clearly stated to ensure that the best people are selected for the board. The ideal candidates will possess strong skills in project management, and be passionate about the mission of the non-profit they support. They should also be able to attend meetings and to volunteer their time for the group.
