Board

Board of Trustees- Chairman- ?????

Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards

1. Determine mission and purpose. It is the board's responsibility to create and review a statement of mission and purpose that articulates the organization's goals, means, and primary constituents served.

2. Select the chief executive. Boards must reach consensus on the chief executive's responsibilities and undertake a careful search to find the most qualified individuals for the position.

3. Support and evaluate the chief executive. The board should ensure that the chief executive has the moral and professional support he or she needs to further the goals of the organization.

4. Ensure effective planning. Boards must actively participate in an overall planning process and assist in implementing and monitoring the plan's goals.

5. Monitor, and strengthen programs and services. The board's responsibility is to determine which programs are consistent with the organization's mission and monitor their effectiveness.

6. Ensure adequate financial resources. One of the board's foremost responsibilities is to secure adequate resources for the organization to fulfill its mission.

7. Protect assets and provide proper financial oversight. The board must assist in developing the annual budget and ensuring that proper financial controls are in place.

8. Build a competent board. All boards have a responsibility to articulate prerequisites for candidates, orient new members, and periodically and comprehensively evaluate their own performance.

9. Ensure legal and ethical integrity. The board is ultimately responsible for adherence to legal standards and ethical norms.

10. Enhance the organization's public standing. The board should clearly articulate the organization's mission, accomplishments, and goals to the public and garner support from the community.

Director Job Description

Although other questions may be relevant in specific situations, directors who follow the approach outlined below should be well on the way to fulfilling their legal commitments to the organization. The following questions should be asked:

WHAT ARE THE STATED PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION?A nonprofit organization must use all of its assets to advance the purposes for which the organization was formed, as set out in its articles of incorporation and/or bylaws (stated purposes). These stated purposes are controlling over all other statements of policy issued by the organization

1. Is this transaction in the best interests of the organization?2. Is the director acting honestly, in good faith, and with total integrity?3. How accurate are the records?4. Are there other laws that affect the particular situation?5. How would an ordinarily reasonable and prudent person decide the matter?6. Is the transaction fair to the organization?7. Is there a conflict of interest or self dealing? 8. Are taxes being paid?9. Does the director have all the relevant facts?10. Is there any reason not to trust the information being furnished?11.Are meetings held regularly?12. Does the director attend the meetings?13. Were any conditions placed on the donated funds?14. Were any promises made when the funds were raised?15. Does the transaction benefit a private individual?16. Does the transaction advance the stated purposes?17. What are the stated purposes of the organization?

What are the key financial questions our board should ask? Ten key financial questions nonprofit board members should ask: 1. Have we run a gain or loss? (i.e., Are we better or worse off financially than we were a year ago?) 2. Are our key sources of income rising or falling? If they are falling,  what are we doing? 3. Are our key expenses, especially salary and benefits, under control? 4. Do we have sufficient reserves?  Has the board adopted a formal policy  for the establishment of reserves? 5. Is our cash flow projected to be adequate? 6. Are we regularly comparing our financial activity with what we have budgeted? 7. Is our financial plan consistent with our strategic plan? 8. Is our staff satisfied and productive? 9. Are we filing on a timely basis all the reporting documents we are supposed to be filing? 10. Are we fulfilling all of our legal obligations?