The Role of the Board
by Marina Pavlov
The board itself is part of the human resources of the organization. The function of the board members is usually defined in the bylaws. The function of the chair, the secretary and the treasurer are all spelled out there, along with committee chairs. Like all parts of the bylaws, these definitions need to be examined periodically to determine if they need to be updated.
From the staff and volunteer perspective, Human Resources are usually spelled out in the form of a staff and volunteer handbook approved by the board. That way policies can be changed during a board meeting, using the handbook as a living document. Policies in the handbook are not bylaw issues, which are more difficult and time consuming to change.
Change is in the air. Today’s trend is for boards to discuss and be sensitive to diversity, both in the board itself and in Human Resources. Many boards are receiving diversity training. Conferences dealing with, for example philanthropy, are also discussing diversity at great length. It will be interesting to see the effects this heightened awareness of diversity will bring in the next few years.
Boards need to be aware of workers’ status and the differences between an employee and an independent contractor. The following worksheet can be helpful to integrate into your policies. Click here for a worksheet on defining an independent contractor vs an employee.
Another function of the Board is fundraising and marketing, both related. One resource your organization should be utilizing to connect with potential supporters and amplify your nonprofit’s work is the free Candid (formerly GuideStar) profile with Seals of Transparency. Click here for a free, short discussion of how you can claim your free Candid profile and share your story, which will also qualify your organization for several bonuses. Drive your whole fundraising function to a higher level with Candid profiles which are viewed by millions of potential donors and funders. In addition, this information reaches tens of millions of donors and funders through more than 200 Candid partners and all major US-based donor-advised funds. More than 35,000 staff from private foundations look to Candid for information, as do more than 16 leading community foundations. Click here to read more about Candid profiles.
Learn more about how to work with and improve your Board by attending the LEADERSHIP: Governance, Board Policy & Volunteerism class as part of the Sunshine Certificate in Nonprofit Management. Learn more about workplace ethics, accountability, diversity, harassment, and creating an employee handbook by attending the Human Resources & Volunteers class as part of the Sunshine Certificate in Nonprofit Management. Learn more about using technology to advance your mission by attending the Information Revolution – Managing Technology class as part of the Sunshine Certificate in Nonprofit Management. Click here for the yearly schedule to find the next class.
Click here for Principles and Practices for Florida Nonprofit Excellence on Governance.