Welcome
Have questions about your board and organization?
How can I re-energize my board?
How can our board be sure that we are governing properly?
Where can I find qualified and enthusiastic board members?
Which committees are essential to our successful leadership?
How can we work more effectively with the staff?
Find practical, easy-to-use tools and resources here
Accounting
- Read Article “Accounting Pitfalls – 11 Your Nonprofit Should Avoid”
- Read Blog “IRS Form 990 Changes – How do They Affect You?”
Agenda – See “Board Meetings” or “Retreats” or “Orientation”
Articles of Incorporation
- Read more about Articles of Incorporation
Board Assessment – See “Board Self-Evaluation”
Board Development Committee – Also, See “Committees”
- Apply best practices from booklet: “The Board Development Committee”
Board Governance – See “Governance”
Board Meetings
- Read more about Board Meetings
- Read Blog “Effective Nonprofit Board Meetings”
- Download free tool “Format for Board Meeting Minutes” at this web page
- Apply best practices from booklet: “Board Meetings, Calendars, and Retreats”
Board Officers – See “Officer Job Descriptions”
Board President – See “Officer Job Descriptions”
Board Retreat – See “Retreat”
Board Self-Evaluation
- Read more about Board Self-Evaluation
- Read Article “Nonprofit Board Self-Evaluation – The Who, What, When, Where and Why of Board Self-Assessments”
- Read Blog “Nonprofit Board Self-Evaluation”
- Download free tool “Board Self-Evaluation – Discussion Questions” at this web page
- Download free tool “Board Self-Evaluation – Questionnaire” at this web page
Board/Staff Relationship
- Read more about Board/Staff Relationship
- Download free tool “A Look at the Short-Term Future – A Diagnostic for NonProfit Boards and Their Staffs” at this web page
- Download free tool “Diagnostic – Board/Staff/Volunteer Responsibilities” at this web page
By-Laws
- Read more about By-Laws
- Read Article “Nonprofit Bylaws Tune-Up – What to Include, What to Avoid, and How to Make it Happen”
Calendar
- Read more about Calendars
- Apply best practices from booklet: “Board Meetings, Calendars, and Retreats”
CEO – See “Executive Director”
Chairman/Chairperson of the Board – See “Officer Job Descriptions”
Committees
- Read more about Committees
- Read Article “4 Nonprofit Board Committees Every Well-Run Organization Has”
- Apply the best practices and tools from booklet : “Big 4 Committees + Committee Overview”
- Read Article “Well-Defined Board Committee Objectives Can Help Revitalize Your Disinterested Board “
- Apply best practices from booklet: “Productive Board Committees”
- Apply best practices from booklet: “Board Development Committee”
- Apply best practices from booklet: “The Finance Committee”
- Apply best practices from booklet: “The Fundraising Committee”
- Apply best practices from booklet: “The Personnel Committee”
Conflict of Interest
- Read more about Conflict of Interest
- Read Article “Conflict of Interest – 9 Essentials to Include in Your Policy and Statement”
- Download a FREE sample “Conflict of Interest Policy and Statment” at this web page
Executive Committee
- Read Blog “Executive Committees – What Should They Decide?”
Executive Director
- Read Article “Nonprofit Executive Directors – You Are at Risk Without a Job Description”
- Read Blog “Watch for Executive Director Burn-out in New Nonprofits”
Fiduciary Responsibilities
Finance – Also see “Accounting”
Finance Committee
- Apply best practices from booklet: “The Finance Committee”
Fundraising
- Free Ready-To-Use Tool “”22 Ways to Engage Your Board in Better Fundraising” when you sign up for the free, monthly BoardsThatExcel eNewsletter. Sign up for eNewsletter now.
- Read Article “Fundraising – 9 Best Practices That Clarify Your Board’s Role”
- Read Blog “What’s the Board’s Role in Fundraising?”
- Read Article “Fundraising Appeals Speeches – Preparing Your Nonprofit Board Members to Be Ready Anywhere, Anytime”
- Read Article “Nonprofit Board of Directors Elevator Speech – 4 Easy Steps to Promote Your Organization”
- Apply best practices from booklet: “The Fundraising Committee”
Fundraising Committee
- Apply the best practices from booklet : “The Fundraising Committee”
Governance
- Read more about Governance
Human Resources – See “Personnel Committee”
Meetings – See “Board Meetings” or “Retreat”
Mission Statement
- Read the basics of Mission Statements
- Apply best practices from booklet: “Vision, Mission, and Values Statements”
Minutes
Motivating the Board
- Read Article “Nonprofit Board of Directors – Is Yours Apathetic? 5 Common Problems and How to Solve Them”
Officer Job Descriptions
- Read Article “A Board President’s Checklist For Success”
Organization Support
- Read more about Organization Support
Orientation of Board Members
- Read more about Orientation
- Apply best practices from booklet: “Engaging Board Orientation”
Personnel Committee
- Read Blog “Personnel Committees Need more Involvement in Compensation Decisions”
- Apply best practices from booklet: “The Personnel Committee”
Planning
- Read more about Planning
- Download for free “A Look at the Short-term Future – A Diagnostic for Nonprofit Boards and Their Staffs” at this web page
Recruitment of Board Members
- Read more about Recruitment of Board Members
- Read Article “Board Member Recruitment – 11 Creative Ways to Find Exceptional Candidates”
- Apply best practices from booklet: “Purposeful Board Recruitment”
Responsibilities of Board Members
Retreats
- Read more about Retreats
- Apply best practices from booklet: “Board Meetings, Calendars, and Retreats”
Secretary – See “Officer Job Descriptions”
Staff/Board Retreat – See “Retreat”
Starting a Nonprofit Organization
- Download free booklet “Starting a Nonprofit Organization”
Strategic Planning
- Read more about Planning
Term Limits
- Read Article “Term Limits – Critical to Your Nonprofit Board’s Success”
Treasurer – See “Officer Job Descriptions”
Vice Chairperson – See “Officer Job Descriptions”
Vice President – See “Officer Job Descriptions”
Vision Statement
- Read more about Vision Statements
- Apply best practices from booklet: “Vision, Mission, and Values Statements”
Values Statement
- Read more about Values Statements
- Apply best practices from booklet: “Vision, Mission, and Values Statements”
Peggy Law, Founder and Executive Director of the Service Dogs of Virginia writes:
“Alyson’s guidance and experience has allowed us to create a structure that works with a board that is enthusiastic and committed. I am grateful for her help and will keep going back for guidance as we evolve. I would recommend BoardWorks to anyone who needs help stewarding the changes required in an evolving organization.”