Board

Q: Our nonprofit’s executive “hides” us board members from foundation, corporate and government program officers. Shouldn’t board members and me, as board chair, be front-and-center or at least be part of the team that makes the “pitch” and is involved in a relationship?...

A nonprofit advisory board is an important vehicle for a nonprofit organization. Where else can you obtain a diverse set of community leaders representing a variety of organizations and life experiences with a common purpose, which is to provide support for your organization?...

When experiencing nonprofit board resistance, you’ll know it, you’ll feel it. You’ll feel the frustration when you have a brainstorm and send a quick note or text—excited by the opportunity to share your new idea and, audibly, hear the dull thud of it landing, fully unread, in the recipients’ inboxes or phones...

Many small nonprofits start with a family forming the core of the board of directors; there may also be family members delivering the services. This can result in a significant conflict of interest and should be avoided.

Starr H. Purdue has served on Navicent Health’s board of directors for 15 years and as board chairman since 2009. She has tirelessly devoted her time and talent to improving the services offered at Navicent Health, a 970-bed health system providing an estimated 800,000 residents of central and south Georgia with a continuum of health care...

Dysfunctional boards? Let’s discuss. Someone (several someones actually) have asked if private sector boards work “better” than nonprofit boards. While you might think that having everyone pulling in one direction—profit-making—would mean that a board would be easier to manage—I would point you to Exhibit A, Uber. Enough said...

Some 35-plus years ago when I began my career in nonprofit capacity-building, I was fortunate enough to have two board members to believe that I could not do my work without technology...

There is no question that one of the biggest challenges in nonprofit board and leadership work is… people. Because people are also who make up nonprofit board and leadership teams—and who makes the work so good, too. It helps to have some good and effective ways to untangle things...

The truth is that every member of the executive committee—all nonprofit board members—has a fiduciary responsibility to call for full disclosure to the board...

Running a nonprofit is hard work—physically and emotionally. You hope to make a change in your community and have so much of your heart invested in your efforts. With all of the energy you put into your own business, why would you take time to serve on another nonprofit board?...