Successful Nonprofit Boards
When COVID-19 cancels your meeting
We’re having to adjust to a different world right now. In general, it’s always best to have an in-person meeting on matters of great importance. This provides the fullest opportunity to discuss, debate, consider alternatives, and come to agreement. When that’s impossible, you have to look at alternatives. This article lays out the options, as…
Read MoreConflict of interest can be complicated
The basic principle underlying conflict of interest is easy to state but applying it in real-life cases can be complicated. In a nutshell, when you accept a position on a local government body or a nonprofit board, you are obliged to put the interests of the organization above your own personal interest, and you can’t…
Read More3 major pitfalls for nonprofit boards
In my experience there are three major pitfalls that can affect the ability of a nonprofit board of directors to fulfill its duty and serve its organization. Pitfall 1 – lack of immediate feedback In many cases, nonprofit boards are dealing with matters whose results will occur sometime in the future—next month, next year, or…
Read MoreCriticizing a board decision in public
It is a basic principle of parliamentary procedure that the decision of the majority, voting at a properly called meeting, is the decision of the body as a whole. The members whose views did not prevail are bound to go along with the majority. This goes back deep in time, to the origins of our…
Read MoreWhat if your nonprofit board isn’t following its bylaws?
If your board isn’t following its own bylaws, here are some different approaches you can take. 1. Educate the board about liability The first step is to educate the board. Point out to them that bylaws are not a “suggestion,” they are mandatory. They form the foundation of how the entire organization functions. Failing to…
Read MoreExecutive committee cannot overturn board decision
A reader contacted us recently to ask whether the executive committee of his organization had the right to overturn a decision made by the full board. The answer is no, unless the bylaws give that right. Similarly, a board of directors may not overturn a decision made by the full membership. Robert’s Rules is very…
Read MoreDealing with difficult members
Have you ever wished that you could just throw a member out of your nonprofit organization? Some people are so challenging that we wish we could! Here are some tips for dealing with difficult members.
Read MoreEffective meeting management can be yours!
Everyone wants effective meeting management, but how do we get there?
Read MoreDangers of consensus decision-making
At a recent nonprofit board conference, I asked participants how they discuss and decide their issues.
Read MoreBoards can’t meet on Slack or similar group messaging platforms
It is fine for board members of a private nonprofit to use Slack or other group messaging platforms to deal with administrative matters like when the next board meeting will be held.
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