Michelle Hatch | April 29, 2016
In my previous article, I laid out the overarching responsibilities of non-profit boards, which include big-picture strategic planning; selecting executive staff members; overseeing executive leadership; approving the organization’s budgets; overseeing compensation for staff members and leadership; and fundraising.
In this article, I will focus on the responsibilities of each individual board member.
Understand your fiduciary responsibilities
As members of non-profit organizations’ governing bodies, individual board members must adhere to the legal responsibilities of fiduciaries. A fiduciary is a “person who has the power and an obligation to act on behalf of another under circumstances that require total trust, good faith and honesty.”
As fiduciaries, non-profit board members have three specific legal duties:
- Duty of Care: To act with such care as an ordinary, prudent person would employ in your position.
- Duty of Loyalty: To act in good faith and in a manner you reasonably believe is in the best interest of the organization.
- Duty of Obedience: To be faithful to the organization’s mission. You are not permitted to act in a way that is inconsistent with the central goals of the organization. A basis for this rule lies in the public’s trust that the organization will manage donated funds to fulfill the organization’s mission.
Long story short: board members must, at all times, act in the best interest of the non-profit organizations they represent.
Educate yourself on the organization you represent
In order to responsibly serve on a non-profit’s board, members should understand the organization’s mission, strategic vision and financial situation. That means reviewing:
- Audited financial statements of past years
- The organization’s Form 990
- Missions and values of the organization
- The organization’s bylaws
- The organization’s most recent strategic plan
- Current financial statements
Once new board members are initiated, they should review all provided information in advance of board meetings, including financial information, so that each member is prepared to make informed and responsible decisions.
Joining committees to stay involved with the organization
Most non-profit boards have committees dedicated to specific organizational efforts. These committees vary based on the size and operations of each organization.
Individual board members should actively seek out committees relevant to their specific skill sets and interests.
