Roles And Responsibilities Of Nonprofit Board Governance

The elements of a board as a defining factor in the self-governance character of a nonprofit is affirmed by Worth (2014). For example, the “control of the nonprofit lies with a board of directors…who have overall responsibility to [care for and oversee] the organization” (Worth, 2014, p. 57). Big Brothers Big Sisters exemplifies volunteerism in both its history and present service practices. For example, the organization currently utilizes “400,000 volunteer mentors and families” (Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, 2016a, para. 3) to work with youth and facilitate the organizations critical programs and relationships (Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, 2016a). Big Brothers Big Sisters history is also reflective of volunteerism is critical role. To illustrate, in 1904 Ernest Coulter founded the Big Brothers movement with 39 volunteers, who each agree to befriend and mentor an individual youth (Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, 2016a). The statistical data from Big Brothers Big Sisters reveals that the organization have a tremendous impact on community individuals and therefore provides a public benefit through

ReferencesRobert D. H. & Associates (2005). THE JOSSEY-BASS HANDBOOK OF NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The diversity of nonprofit organizations, services provided and the problems faced shows that nonprofits require leadership with an in-depth understanding of the multifaceted nonprofit landscape. Understanding the culture of nonprofit work is also crucial and much easier to understand once you have been through a nonprofit management program. My career interests lead me towards an avocation of a deeper knowledge of strategic management/planning, legal structure and standards, increase my skills in quantitative analysis of policy, financial governance and developing fundraising strategies. These areas allow for macro management within the nonprofit

“The governing board of a non-profit organization holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the organization serves its mission and for the overall welfare of the organization itself.” (Worth, 2017) This week’s reading was about how boards of non-profit organizations or better known as “governing boards”, operate and the types of responsibilities they have. Before taking this class, I thought that boards held the same responsibilities and held the same amount of power. Elected boards, self-perpetuating boards, appointed and hybrid, and advisory boards were discussed in this chapter. I was able to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each board. For example, an advantage of a self-perpetuating board would be the board is able

The members of the board are tasked with designing the organization’s structure and determining how different aspects of the organization will interact. Since the only source of revenue for Making a Change, LLC, is monies it receives from businesses and our philanthropist community who may or may not be looking to invest in the organization’s cause and/or for tax purposes.

Most nonprofit agencies follow the same management structure. The structure normally consists of a vertical hierarchal structure with the chief executive manager at the helm, and divisional leaders rounding out the strategic leadership team. Since 9/11, then government shutdowns, multiple wars, natural disasters, and the government sequester, the challenge to most nonprofits is to compete for every available charitable dollar. Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of nonprofits must not only be skillful in maximizing the outcomes with fewer dollars, but also politically savvy in vying for monies for federal, state, local, foundation, and private funding sources.

At the center of any successful nonprofit organization there is an effective chief executive and board of directors. These leaders must work as a team with a vision and specific skills, to effectively produce resources in order to accomplish the organization's goals. The majority of the decision making authority and leadership is shared amongst board members; however, critical management skills and day-to-day operational decisions rest within the authority of the chief executive. However, members of the board must also be sufficiently skilled in management in order to assess the work of its director to assist in the implementation and evaluation of strategic decision making.

Nonprofits are made up of key team players that contribute to all of the work that goes into making the organization a success. Without members who don’t align with the core values, mission, and ethical practices of a nonprofit it cannot produce the outcomes it desires. A governing board is the group of people entrusted with and accountable for the leadership and governance of a nonprofit corporation (Renz, p. 127). This board holds the accountability and trust for the community and clients it serves. The importance of these members and their actions for the organizations they work for contribute to the success and good work it produces for the community they serve. Stated on p. 136 by David O. Renz “Nonprofits exist to meet community needs, and it is important for the board to be well connected to both sets of clients so it can make legitimate and useful judgments about whether the organization’s programs and activities are valued by those they are designed to serve,” exemplifies how nonprofits practice ethics through their

It is the utmost concern of the leadership in the nonprofit to guide the organization through financial control. Through the guidance of the board of directors and officers, the organization aims to achieve its mission and vision. This accomplishment cannot be done without the strategic plan of financial control put into place by the leadership. It is important to set up internal controls and according to the Council of Nonprofits, financial management practices that are systematically used to prevent misuse and misappropriation of assets, such as occur through theft or embezzlement" (Council of Nonprofits, 2016). Leaders in the nonprofit world would do well to ensure they are following all the standards of best business practices and remaining accountable to the board, state, and

The nonprofit sector faces many challenges that make it more difficult to measure its financial performance. Young (2007) states that the survival of nonprofit businesses depends upon receiving financial funding from outside donors such as donations from charities, government contracts, endowments et cetera, and the necessity for having several different revenue sources is a challenge for nonprofit management. In addition, he points out that securing capital for operating is also much different than in the traditional business world. Fortunately, scholars have provided tools and information that will help nonprofits manage and measure their unique financial performance so they may make informed decisions and guide their organizations to sustainability (Young, 2007).

One of the things that I have seen happen repeatedly is that some Executive Directors truly “fall in love” with their agency and fail to adjust to the needs of the stakeholders. One of the things that nonprofits need to do is to learn from the

In a nonprofit organization, managers are concerned with “generating some social impact” (Daft, 2013). Stakeholders for nonprofit organizations include the community, taxpayers, the government, private donors, employees, and volunteers. Each one of these stakeholders poses a challenge for managers. For instance, in a nonprofit organization, there is a “continual struggle to pursue vital social missions in the face of

The non-profit [Spell as one word without hyphen] governance plan a function that provides standards and guidelines for a structured board of directors (McCambridge, 2004; Renz, 2013) and controls the organization to meet stakeholders and business goal (Goergen, 2012). To further explain governance, it is the manner in which decision-making is processed based [Passive voice ] on the approved and established mission, values, and vision. Bienvenidos mission, values, and vision are as follows:

Nonprofit organizations have several functions, and not each one is alike. Essential to all non-profit organizations are four functions: planning, budgeting, funding and management.

Through the years, marketers have invented ever-more sophisticated ways to develop organizational position statements. Lots of these methodologies work, and you can spend big money with consultants on finely crafted and focus-group-tested positioning statements. At the same time, for nonprofits, the simpler approach advocated by the marketing savant Harry Beckwith may achieve much the same result at considerably lower cost and effort. I think of Beckwith whenever I find myself confronted with a classic “elevator test” moment. You strike up a conversation in an elevator, on the subway, in the line at Starbucks and the question soon arises: What do you do? The challenge is how to answer that question in an interesting, compelling manner that invites further questions about your organization, but that does not bog down in jargon or too much detail. You don’t have much time — maybe two sentences at most. So what do you include? What do you leave out? What’s your answer to the elevator test? Lest you think this exercise trivial, recall that everyone on the staff of your nonprofit gets asked the “what do you do?” question, in various forms, every day. In that sense, everyone on staff is a marketer, albeit rarely trained as such. Do you know how your staff is responding? Do you have any