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Boards, Working with

Nonprofit organizations are governed by boards of directors, comprised mainly of members who serve as volunteers. It is that characteristic that is the interest of this subject in the library: applying volunteer management principles to how boards of directors recruit their members, work with the executive of the organization, form committees, and work among themselves. Other organizations specialize in "boardsmanship" and deal with broader topics relating to successful boards (strategic planning, budgeting, policies, etc.); we have provided links to those sites here under the the Web Sites and Blogs tab.

Related Topics: Boards of Directors | All-Volunteer Group Development | Executive Director, Role of | Legal Issues
Avoiding the Pitfalls [in Recruiting Board Members], Carol E. Weisman, p. 18-20, F.E. Robbins & Sons, 1998
Be Ambassadors to the Community, Jan Masaoka, All Hands on Board: The Board of Directors in an All-Volunteer Organization, pp. 15-16, National Center for Nonprofit Boards and the Support Center for Nonprofit Management, 1999
Board Chair Responsible?, Don Kramer, Nonprofit Issues
The Board Isn't Just a Board -- It's a Group!, Katherine Tyler Scott
Board Service Burn-Out Quiz and Recovery Plan, Carol Weisman, MSW, CSP Veteran of 32 boards, president of 7, 2011
Board Service by Young People, Jenny Sazama and Karen S. Young, pp.19-20, Youth on Board, 2001
Boards of All-Volunteer Organizations, Blue Avocado
Boards of Directors: Governing at a Distance?, Susan J. Ellis, Energize Hot Topic, 2007
Can Nonprofit Boards Vote by Email?, Gene Takagi and Emily Nicole Chan, 2009
Corporate Perspective of Serving on a Non-Profit Board, Daniel Patrick O'Grady, Chair of the Board of Volunteer Calgary, Vantage Point, 2000
Day 6: Find Your Successor, Carol E. Weisman, pp. 33-4, F.E. Robbins & Sons, 1998
Divining a Skills Set, Susan J. Ellis, The NonProfit Times, 2008
Don’t You Love Me Anymore? The Critical Care of Past Board Members, Simone Joyaux, Nonprofit Quarterly, 2014
Don’t You Love Me Anymore? The Critical Care of Past Board Members, Simone Joyaux, Nonprofit Quarterly, 2014
How to cut 15 minutes of gas from every meeting, Hilborn (Canadian FundRaiser), Hilborn blog, 2013
Is Your Board Helping You or Hurting You?, Joanne Fritz
The Missing Link: Where are Volunteers at the National Level?, Susan J. Ellis, Energize Hot Topic, 2002
The Need for Institutional Memory, Susan J. Ellis, Energize Hot Topic, 2003
Policy Governance Defined
Should Board Members Be Paid?, Mark Athitakis, Associations Now, 2014
Sneaky and Insightful Boardroom Questions, Carol Weisman, Board Builders e-zine, News from the Road, 2010
Virtual Volunteering, Harvey Meyer, 2012
Why The Board Should Consider Volunteer Issues, Susan J. Ellis, The Nonprofit Board's Role in Maximizing Volunteer Resources, pp. 2-3, National Center for Nonprofit Boards, 1999
Why Young People Should Be Decision Makers, Jenny Sazama and Karen S. Young, pp. 4-6, Youth on Board, 2001
Working with Committees, Cassy Dierkig Venters

The following are articles on this topic in our journal. Previews are free, full articles are subscriber only.

Adding MAGIC to Your Meetings
All Hands On Board: the Board of Directors in All-Volunteer Organizations, Jan Masaoka, originally published by the National Center for Nonprofit Boards , pp. 19
BoardSource, Several free e-books on board topics from BoardSource, though some are members-only.
Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practices,

A Guide for Charities and Foundations. Published by the Independent Sector on work done by The Panel on the Nonprofit Sector.

, 2007, pp. 32
Adler & Colvin (formerly Silk, Alder & Colvin)

The "resources" area of this law firm's Web site offers a number of excellent articles on legal issues for nonprofit boards of directors.

All about Boards of Directors

Comprehensive site compiled by Carter McNamara, with many articles and links on specific board-related topics.

Association Xpertise Inc. (AXI) Resources

Wide variety of articles on board and association management from this Canadian consulting firm.

Board Cafe

Archive of past issues of this monthly e-newsletter for board members from CompassPoint Nonprofit Services.

boardnetUSA

A site "revolutionizing the way nonprofit boards and new leaders find each other." Nonprofits can post their board member vacancies and individuals interested in board service can browse what might suit their interests.

BoardSource

Major American source for information about nonprofit boards of directors. Especially see their "Essential Questions" about board membership, the rest of theirQ&A topics, and their 107-page compilation (PDF),A Guide to the Literature on Governance: An Annotated Bibliography.

Career Volunteer

Career Volunteer is "here to make it easier for you to search and recruit trustees, skilled volunteers, potential mentors, and Board Members for your charity, NGO or social enterprise...By skilled volunteers we mean people who can provide pro bono assistance in specialist areas - marketing, finance, fundraising, strategy or people with technical abilities in other professions." Career Volunteer gives you access to fully funded expertise and Board-level skills from outside the sector, provided on a pro bono basis -- candidates are drawn from large corporates participating and funding the programme.  Also have an interesting blog, "Volunteers do it for free" at http://blog.careervolunteer.co.uk/

 

Corestrategies on Nonprofits Blog

Written by four nonprofit consultants led by Terrie Temkin, this blog frequently offers volunteer-related posts.

Fieldstone Alliance - Free Resources

This consulting, publishing, training, and research organization is focused on strong nonprofit performance. In this area of the site are articles and tools on various subjects, including boards, management and finance.

InnoVate Blog

From JFFixler Group, consultants in volunteer engagement and board developement

Nonprofit Issues

Nonprofit Issues® is a national Web newsletter of "Nonprofit Law You Need To Know." Written for nonprofit executives and their advisors, lawyer Donald Kramer provides clear, concise and comprehensive coverage of real issues that affect nonprofits every day. While there is a fee for subscribing to the full publication or participating in webinars, sign up for the free weekly e-mailed "Question and Answer" where Don Kramer responds to readers' questions on topics of general interest, often volunteer-related.

PTO Today

Wonderful publication and online resource for parent-teacher organizations -- but with all sorts of useful nuggets for ANY all-volunteer organization.

Resource Center for Good Governance and Ethical Practice

Developed by The Independent Sector, a the leadership network for nonprofits, foundations, and corporations committed to advancing the common good.  This area of the site is devoted to improving the quality of boards of directors. 

Social Velocity (blog)

Focused on helping nonprofits create a growth or strategic plan, determine how to bring more money in the door, and get their boards engaged and invested.

TrusteeWorks

Part of Reach...Skilled Volunteers in the UK, this site helps both organizations and board members work more effectively.

Working with Committeesarea of University of Illinois Extension Web Site

This website containsfact sheets,role descriptions,worksheets, andadditional resourcesto assist volunteers and 4-H members in developing effective committees within their club -- but applicable elsewhere.

Print and e-Books in Our Store

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The Abundant Not-for-Profit

This book offers leaders a new road map for transforming their organizations with talent, not money, by meaningfully engaging and integrating volunteers asbknowledge philanthropists.

Build a Better Board

Build a Better Board in 30 Days

Great reminders for experienced board members and an easy orientation for new board members.

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Leading the Way to Successful Volunteer Involvement

Workbook of checklists, worksheets, idea stimulators, and other practical tools for senior-level leaders to incorporate volunteer involvement as a key ingredient in the overall strategy of an organization.

Secrets of Successful Boards

The Secrets of Successful Boards

A Boards 101 book for trustees new to boards, for leaders of all-volunteer associations, or for anyone starting a nonprofit from the ground up, with chapters by ten well-known authorities on boards.

Secrets of Successful Fundraising

Secrets of Successful Fundraising

Nineteen top fundraising professionals clearly explain all your options for increasing your revenue and promoting your organization.

Secrets of Successful Retreats

Secrets of Successful Retreats

A step-by-step guide to planning and facilitating a productive off-site retreat for boards and other volunteers, paid management and line staff, or any combination thereof.

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Self-Help Accounting, 2nd Edition

A how-to guide to fulfilling the role of board treasurer, written in simple, clear language for the non-accountant.

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When Everyone's a Volunteer

Challenges conventional wisdom about boards, fundraising, and membership development when applied to grassroots volunteer efforts. Includes great group interaction exercises.

Youth Board Involvement and the Law

Your Guide to Youth Board Involvement and the Law (free PDF)

An analysis of the key legal issues arising when involving young people under the age of 18 on a board of directors, with strategies to maximize youth involvement whatever your state's laws.

Movie Mondays from 501 Video

"Fun weekly videos to help nonprofits raise money, steward donors, and inspire board members," produced by Chris Davenport with a range of guest presenters.  A new, short video (usually less than 5 minutes) comes out every Monday and you get the link via e-mail. 

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