Responsibilities of the Non Profit Board & Individual Members

Your Nonprofit Organization’s Board of Directors

Responsibilities of the Board

Your organization’s Board of Directors has many important responsibilities. Though they may vary from organization to organization, the following is description of the responsibilities and duties of most boards.

1. Determine the organization’s vision, mission and purpose. It is the board’s responsibility to create a statement of mission and purpose, and to review it periodically for accuracy and validity. This statement should set out the organization’s goals, means, and primary constituents served. Each board member should fully understand and provide their support.
2. Select the organization’s chief executive and periodically review the leader’s performance. The board must also ensure that the chief executive, who has responsibility for the administration of the organization, receives the professional support he or she needs to further the organization’s goals.
3. Ensure effective organization planning. As steward of the organization, the board must actively participate with the staff in an overall planning process, and assist in implementing the plan’s goals. The board should help staff management to develop business plans, policy objectives, business strategies, and priorities.

4. Ensure adequate resources. One of the board’s foremost responsibilities is to provide adequate resources for the organization to fulfill its mission. The board should work in partnership with the chief executive and development staff to raise funds from the community.

5. Manage resources effectively. The board, in order to remain accountable to its donors and the public, and to safeguard its tax-exempt status, must assist in developing and ultimately approve the annual budget and ensure proper financial controls are in place.

6. Determine, monitor, and strengthen the organization’s programs and services. The board’s role in this area is to determine which programs are the most consistent with an organization’s mission, and to monitor their effectiveness. By constantly reviewing the organization’s work, the board ensures the organization’s capacity to carry out its programs.

7. Enhance the organization’s public standing. The board is the organization’s primary link to the community. Clearly articulating the organization’s vision, mission, values and goals to the public, as well as garnering support from members of the community, are important elements of a comprehensive public relations strategy.

8. Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability. The board is ultimately responsible for ensuring adherence to legal standards and ethical norms. The board must establish pertinent policies and procedures and adhere to provisions of the organization’s bylaws and articles of incorporation.

9. Recruit and orient new board members, and assess board performance. The board must select new board members and orient them to their responsibilities including the organization’s history, needs, and challenges. By evaluating its performance, the board can recognize its achievements and determine which areas need to be improved. As the organization grows and improves, the governing board must also evolve to meet changing needs and circumstances.

Responsibilities of Individual Board Members
Within larger framework of board responsibilities, the chosen individual board members must each fulfill certain obligations to the organization. Those obligations include:

• Attend all board and committee meetings and functions, and be prepared to participate.
• Stay informed about board and committee matters; review and comment on minutes and reports.
• Stay informed about the organization’s mission, services, policies, and programs.
• Keep up-to-date on developments in the organization’s field.
• Follow developments in the community, economy, government, etc. that may affect the organization.
• Serve on committees and offer to take on special assignments.
• Make a personal financial contribution to the organization.
• Participate in organizational fundraising.
• Inform others about the organization.
• Get to know other members; build working relationships that contribute to consensus.
• Suggest nominees to the board who can make significant contributions to the work of the board and the organization.
• Follow conflict of interest and confidentiality policies.
• Assist the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities such as reviewing the organization’s annual financial statements.
• Participate actively in the board’s annual evaluation and planning efforts.

Keep in mind that:

• Board members have no individual authority separate of the board and Board members are expected to support decisions of the board, regardless of personal desires and/or opinions.

Sources include: Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards. Washington, DC: National Center for Nonprofit Boards. Six Keys to Recruiting, Orienting, and Involving Nonprofit Board Members. Washington, DC: National Center for Nonprofit Boards.