Tips for Improving Nonprofit Governance - Susan Hammond

This is a clip from Susan Hammonds' October 22, 2009 presentation and The Non-Profit Toolbox mini-conference on creating powerful organizations. Here is a transcript from the clip.

I think the other thing that boars dont do, both the executive director and board chair, tip number 3, is set the expectations and review them regularly. What are our roles and responsibilities?
When I get on a board I usually say to them Look this is what Im interested in trying to accomplish while I am here. Does this meet with what you want to get done and if you are not ready what else do you have for me to do? Im not just happy showing up at board meetings. Any of you that are Executive Directors are probably thinking, how do I get her on my board. Im very picky these days.
I believe and I use something like this for my advisory boards that I help form and facilitate something called a board contract. If you go out to something called compass point or blue avocado, which is the newsletter, they just did an article on board contracts. Its not a legally binding contract, but it really is a way to state what you expect of the advisor, what the roles and responsibilities are and what you as the board chair and board director or CEO are going to do in turn. So its kind of whose doing what.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• nptoolbox
• nonprofit organizations
• nonprofit resources
• nonprofit education
• susan hammond
• advisory board
• governance