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|  Nonprofit Nuts and Bolts The Art of Fundraising Recruiting Volunteers and Keeping Them Happy Marketing and Public Relations Leadership and the Board Good Neighbor Tool Kit Main Page Good Neighbor Home Page | Forming a Board of Directors: The Basics Electing a full-fledged board of directors formalizes its volunteer leadership. It signals your entrance into nonprofit adulthood. A board is the formal leadership of your organization. Most nonprofit organizations are incorporated, which necessitates designating officers. Your board can be simply the officers, but there’s usually an interest in establishing formal volunteer leadership to substantiate your organization’s commitment to the public good. A board of directors should be specified in your bylaws, along with the basic parameters of their powers and responsibilities. TIP: Some states specify the duties of a nonprofit board. Check to see if your organization must meet any particular state regulations in its design and function. Functions of a board of directors:
How many members should be on your board? According to BoardSource, the average size of a nonprofit board is 19 members. Most states dictate a minimum size of three members. The size of your board will probably depend on your annual budget and the complexity of the board’s obligations. How often should it meet? As a rule of thumb, an active board should meet quarterly. That being said, the number of times that a board meets is determined by such factors as the presence of committees, the work of professional staff, and the demands of organizational activity. Some boards meet only once or twice a year; others meet monthly. Should there be term limits? Most board members are elected for two- to four-year terms. Most organizations limit board members’ terms of service to two consecutive terms to stimulate turnover. Thereafter, usually a one-year hiatus is required before a previous member may be re-elected. Organizations frequently stagger the election of board members so that one-third or so of the members are re-elected every one or two years. TIP: Larger, more established organizations tend to keep their board members involved for longer periods, assuming that the kinds of board members they’re able to recruit should remain active as long as possible. Other important elements of effective leadership Executive committee. Many organizations designate an executive committee drawn from its board to deal with more detailed and time-related issues. The executive committee reports to the board at the latter’s meetings, which may be held fewer times in a year because of the activities of the executive committee. The executive committee usually consists of the officers and a select number of other especially committed board members. TIP: Other committees may be structured to address specific obligations and needs—from fundraising committees to special events committees. Such committees may be continuing, standing bodies within your organization or appointed for specific terms of activity. Special boards. You may want to sponsor other boards to support particular programs or sponsor certain events. These sub-boards are often a breeding ground for members of your main board. The two most familiar auxiliaries are women’s boards and associate or junior boards.
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