Managing a nonprofit organization is often a position that is a volunteer for those who have a deep dedication to the visit site cause. It’s not always easy, but it could be rewarding. One of the most challenging aspects of the job is managing boards. Board members are often distracted by the larger scope of their responsibilities, and they can forget the essential details needed to ensure that the nonprofit runs smoothly. This can manifest in big ways, like decisions about hiring an executive director, or smaller ones, like weighing in on pricing for a feature service.
There are a variety of tools that can help board members efficiently manage their responsibility. According to the Leading with Intent guide from 2015 among the most important duties of a board are financial oversight, fundraising as well as community-building and advocacy. It is crucial that each board member is aware of these responsibilities and can execute them well.
Boards can be organized with diverse committees that can help them simplify their work and increase overall performance. A committee for fundraising events, like might be tasked with planning events and managing the donor database. A different committee could be responsible for attracting new members and orienting new members and conducting evaluations of performance for the board as a whole. A third committee could be focused on the internal operations and processes of the board, such as the development of policies. A fourth committee could focus on governance.
No matter the structure of the board, it needs to be well-staffed and equipped with the tools needed to simplify board responsibilities and promote open communication and transparency. For instance, software for boards can streamline meeting management and help members to stay on top of their responsibilities. It allows them to make time for board meetings by central agendas, email notifications and much more.