This page contains information on:
- Board - staff relationships
- Board responsibilities
- Board evaluation matrices
- Toolkits and resources for nonprofit boards
- Board fundraising
Board - Staff Relationships
Best Practices in Board-Staff Relationships
Organizing effective meetings, maintaining open communication, conducting board development and engaging board members all contribute to a positive board-staff relationship. On this call, panelists Rob Sadowsky, Dan Grunig and Chris Morfas discussed the ways they have worked to strengthen the working relationship between staff and board to make their organizations run more effectively and efficiently.
Date: December 2012
Board-Staff Relationship Tip Sheet (Dropbox, PDF)
Strengthening the Board / Executive Director Relationship
Strengthening the relationship of the staff and board can help to build an effective and well-funded organization. This workshop, led by Rob Sadowsky, the executive director for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance in Portland, focused on the board and staff relationship, specifically addressing issues of board development, the functions of a board, the role of the staff, and ways to increase collaboration and success in the staff/board relationship.
Date: Varies by Document
The Role of the Board of Directors vs Staff (Dropbox, DOC)
Addressing Key Challenges in Developing Great Boards (Dropbox, DOC)
Board Roles Agenda (Dropbox, DOC)
Board Duties and Staff Support (Marc Smiley)
What: An overview of the duties an organization's board of directors and the activities of the staff that can support those duties.
Date: January 2012
Board Duties and Staff Support (Dropbox, PDF)
Board Responsibilities
Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards (Alliance)This document covers the basic responsibilities of nonprofit boards, steps to building a better biking/walking advocacy organization board, and recommendations regarding member-elected boards. This document contains information adapted from the National Center for Nonprofit Boards' "Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards," the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Susie Stephens, and Sue Knaup.
Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards (Dropbox, DOC)
Board Development (Foundation Center)
The Foundation Center hosts a number of pages that walk individuals through establishing a nonprofit. This page gives pointers on recruiting and developing board members.
Date: July 2011
Board Development - Recruiting Process (Prescott Alternative Transportation)
This is a sample Board Development recruiting process document, which comes from Prescott Alternative Transportation. Feel free to adapt it for your organization.
Board Development - Recruiting Process (Dropbox, DOC)
Board Letter of Commitment (Prescott Alternative Transportation)
This is a sample Board Letter of Commitment from Prescott Alternative Transportation. Feel free to adapt it for your organization. Letters of Commitment are useful for formalizing levels of commitment and expectations of service from board members. You can put a Letter of Commitment in place at any time. Alliance recommends that your board have a Letter of Commitment for every board member on file.
Board Letter of Commitment (Dropbox, DOC)
The Right Size for the Board
How many people should be on your board? For guidance on board number and other considerations, see this article from Blue Avocado's Board Cafe editor Jan Masaoka.
The Right Size for the Board (Dropbox, PDF)
Board Skills & Representation Matrices
These are examples of matrices to determine the strengths, interests, and representation of boards of directors to ensure a well balanced organization. Feel free to modify these templates for use in your organization.
Alliance for Biking and Walking
Board Skill and Representation Matrix - Alliance for Biking & Walking (Dropbox, XLS)
Adventure Cycling Association
Board Skill Matrix Sample - Adventure Cycling Association (Dropbox, XLS)
Bicycle Colorado
Board Skill Matrix Sample - Bicycle Colorado
Bicycle Coalition of Maine
Board Nomination Grid - Bicycle Coalition of Maine
Iowa Bicycle Coalition
Board Member - Individual Skills Profile - Iowa Bicycle Coalition
Active Transportation Alliance
Board Profile Matrix Sample - Active Transportation Alliance
Toolkits and Resources for Nonprofit Boards
Complete Toolkit for Boards (Management Assistance Program for Nonprofits)
This toolkit gives a comprehensive overview of the tasks and duties typically assigned to nonprofit boards, including roles, responsibilities, and job descriptions.
Complete Toolkit for Boards (URL)
BoardSource
BoardSource is a 501(c)(3) organization that is dedicated to building nonprofit boards and inspiring board service. The organization website provides information on consulting services, a series of books and tools, and an up-to-date list of resources for board development.
Board Fundraising
Fundraising "Menu of Opportunities" and Agreement for Board Members (Andy Robinson)
These "menus," provided by fundraising consultant Andy Robinson, spell out a variety of ways board members can get involved in fundraising for their organization.
Grassroots International Menu of Opportunities (Dropbox, PDF)
Ohio Environmental Council Menu of Opportunities (Dropbox, PDF)
Fundraising Agreement (Dropbox, DOC)
Getting Your Board to Use the F-Word: Overcoming Fundraising Fears
"For many board members, fundraising is a dirty word. As nonprofits face an uphill battle to raise needed dollars in a downhill economy, it is increasingly important that board members use the "f" word with courage and conviction." This article is by Amy Hummel.
Date: April 2004
Getting Your Board to Use the F-Word (Dropbox, PDF)
Getting Grassroots Boards to "Move and Shake" Part I & Part II
"We can't get our Board to help with fundraising, they aren't the 'movers and shakers' in town." If this is a statement you have heard in your organization, read on!
Date: April 2004
