Boards of directors, both commercial and nonprofit are vital to the success or failure of a company. They are fiduciaries who my latest blog post help steer an organisation towards an environmentally sustainable future through the adoption of ethical financial, legal and governance and management practices. They play a significant role as advocates. Board members of non-profit organizations are essential to the organization’s culture, its effectiveness, and its financial viability. They also assist the nonprofit to raise funds and increase awareness through a variety of methods.
Each type of nonprofit has a different structure for the board. Some nonprofits have a single board structure, with a single committee that handles all governance matters. Others prefer to divide the responsibilities of governance among committees that deal with the areas of fundraising, finance and risks programs, human resources and so on. These committees could be permanent (also called standing) or ad hoc committees conceived to tackle specific issues.
Regular training on the roles and responsibilities of each member is among the most important things that nonprofit boards can do. This can include workshops addressing governance as well as ethical and legal issues and review of the organization’s vision and mission.
It is also essential to choose the right members for the board which starts by setting out what the role description will be. Ideal candidates will possess project management skills and a passion for the cause of the non-profit that they serve. They should also be able to attend meetings and give their time to the charity.