Nonprofit Boards Best Practices
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of the materials provided in the document?

  • To outline laws and regulations regarding board governance
  • To provide a historical overview of board development
  • To act as templates or starting points for organizations (correct)
  • To serve as definitive instructions for board operations

Which section outlines the types of policies that a board may implement?

  • Board Recruitment
  • Resources
  • Board Member Types
  • Board Policies (correct)

What essential question should a board answer to form effectively?

  • What skills do we seek in future board members?
  • What benefits are we providing, to whom, and at what cost? (correct)
  • Who are our competitors and how do we perform?
  • How can we reduce the number of board meetings?

Which of the following is NOT listed as a policy example in the document?

<p>Board Performance Review Policy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key consideration when preparing materials for potential board members?

<p>Tailoring the documents to fit the organization's needs (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a policy that may be critical for a board to establish?

<p>Whistleblower Policy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the 'Do’s and Don’ts of Board Recruitment'?

<p>A set of recommendations to improve recruitment processes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is least likely to be addressed in the resources section?

<p>Legal requirements for board activities (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What action should a board member take if a conflict of interest arises?

<p>Declare the conflict before the board and refrain from voting (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What document outlines the seating process for new board members?

<p>By-laws (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is primarily responsible for developing the board agenda?

<p>The executive director (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is included in the regular meeting agenda?

<p>Consent agenda, discussion items, action items, and information items (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should the board avoid doing unless directed by the executive director?

<p>Gathering information about the organization (A), Setting up relationships with staff members (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the consent agenda?

<p>To group routine items that require no discussion (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When are board officer candidates proposed for election?

<p>During the annual meeting (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who primarily holds the responsibility for developing and modifying bylaws?

<p>Board (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should a board member do if they want to discuss an item on the consent agenda?

<p>Ask for the item to be pulled for discussion (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of board training, what is the nature of the responsibility?

<p>Joint responsibility (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the board conduct formal actions during meetings?

<p>In accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When planning agenda for board meetings, what type of responsibility is indicated?

<p>Joint responsibility (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the board's responsibility regarding committee appointments?

<p>To solely appoint and hold committees accountable (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended approach for establishing expectations around attendance at meetings?

<p>Jointly set by board and executive director (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of defining responsibilities for major activities within the board activities framework?

<p>To clarify roles and responsibilities (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How should shared responsibilities be approached according to the outlined framework?

<p>Limit shared responsibility to only a few important activities (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential benefit of maintaining confidentiality during a board self-assessment survey?

<p>It encourages more honest and candid responses. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is relevant to the handling of board survey results?

<p>An ESC volunteer is responsible for collecting and reporting results. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum notice period required for a board member to submit a request for an agenda item?

<p>15 days (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the board survey, what type of information is crucial for members to receive?

<p>Financial information that is understandable. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is responsible for ensuring that all requested items are placed on the board meeting agenda?

<p>The board president (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When were new board members indicated to receive sufficient information to contribute effectively?

<p>At the beginning of their service on the board. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is emphasized regarding materials necessary for board meetings?

<p>They should be provided in a timely manner. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what scenario will the board act in closed session?

<p>When the subject is highly confidential or sensitive (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What action should a board member take upon receiving a complaint from an employee or volunteer?

<p>Refrain from expressing their opinion and refer the matter to the executive director (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect should board members rate to assess their understanding of the organization's mission?

<p>Their understanding of the organization's mission and activities. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which exit statement best reflects the sentiment regarding follow-up on delegated tasks?

<p>Tasks should be followed up regularly. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which practice does the board follow during the voting process?

<p>Robert’s Rules of Order (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is required of board members regarding conflicts of interest in voting?

<p>They cannot vote on motions involving a direct personal or pecuniary interest (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does the board's financial information play in its function?

<p>It provides a clear sense of the organization's financial status. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of votes will be recorded in the minutes of the board meeting?

<p>Dissenting and abstaining votes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should the board president do if discussion diverges from the motion at hand?

<p>Halt discussion that does not apply to the business under deliberation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary intention of the conflict of interest policy?

<p>To supplement federal and state laws governing conflicts of interest. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the potential consequence of poorly managed conflicts of interest?

<p>Loss of public confidence and a damaged reputation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is required to disclose potential conflicts of interest according to the policy?

<p>Board members, the executive director, and consultants/volunteers. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process should be followed when a potential conflict of interest is identified?

<p>Establish procedures to determine whether it constitutes a conflict. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a conflict of interest?

<p>When an interested party's interests compete with the organization’s interests. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What action must board members take when faced with a decision that presents a potential conflict of interest?

<p>Abstain from the decision-making process. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should the organization avoid according to the principle of maintaining public confidence?

<p>Any appearance of impropriety. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT included in the variety of situations that raise conflict of interest concerns?

<p>Public endorsements by board members. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Board Self Assessment

A process for a board of directors to evaluate its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

Board Recruitment

The process of identifying, attracting, and selecting qualified individuals to serve on a board of directors.

Board Member Types

Different categories of board members based on their skills, experience, and expertise.

Board Policies

A set of rules and guidelines to govern a board of directors' actions and decision-making.

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Conflict of Interest

A situation where a board member's personal interests could potentially interfere with their fiduciary duty to the organization.

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Document Retention

Policies for how long records and documents are kept.

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Whistleblower Policy

Procedures to address complaints where individuals report activities that violate laws or regulations.

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Private Inurement

Policy preventing board members from using their position for their personal gain, not for the benefit of the organization.

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Board Authority

The board has the power to establish and modify bylaws, policies, and procedures for board operations.

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Executive Director's Responsibility

The executive director is primarily responsible for carrying out designated activities, unless otherwise specified by the by-laws and board structure.

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Clear Responsibility

Assigning clear responsibility to the executive director (ED) improves decision making and organization agility by removing ambiguity about who is in charge of which activity.

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Board Information Gathering

The board should avoid gathering information from staff members other than the executive director unless explicitly directed by the executive director.

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Shared Responsibility

Limit shared responsibility between the board and executive director to only crucial activities that require collective effort.

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Board Operations

Activities related to running and managing the board, including creating bylaws and appointing committees.

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Information Sharing

Sharing information between the board and executive director is permissible and beneficial, even if one party has primary responsibility.

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Committee Accountability

The board establishes accountability for committees by appointing members and defining their responsibilities and expectations.

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Board Self-Assessment Survey

A tool used by board members to evaluate the effectiveness of their board's performance on matters such as meeting focus, member responsibilities, advance notice for decisions, and information dissemination.

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Confidentiality of Results

Ensuring the privacy of responses to the survey, often handled by a volunteer to maintain anonymity.

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Survey Topic Appropriateness

Evaluating if the questions and topics covered in the survey are relevant and suitable in helping the board understand its performance.

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Meeting Focus on Organizational Matters

A measure of whether the board meetings concentrate on important organizational concerns as opposed to less important matters.

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Member Responsibilities Clarity

Assessing whether board members are clear about their roles and duties within the organization's leadership process.

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Decision Material Advance Notice

Assessing the sufficiency of advance notice regarding important decisions and the related documents.

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Meeting Materials Volume

Evaluating the amount of material members need to review in order to fully grasp the issues and contribute positively to the meetings.

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Handling Urgent Matters

Assessing the board's procedures for addressing urgent matters between meetings.

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Agenda Requests

Board members request items to be included on the agenda at least 15 days before the meeting.

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Motion Discussion

Focus on the topic at hand; president guides discussion to prevent irrelevant topics.

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Voting Procedures

Follow Robert's Rules of Order, vote on agenda items marked 'for decision', or when requested by board members/officers.

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Conflict of Interest

Board members must avoid voting on matters concerning personal or financial gain.

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Closed Session

Confidential, sensitive discussions. Staff & observers may be asked to leave.

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Employee Complaints

Complaints referred to the executive director; board members hear complaints to understand, but do not express opinions.

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Board President's Role

Ensures agenda items are considered and directs discussion, can take vote on any matter.

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Confidential Information

Information discussed in closed session must remain private.

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Board Meeting Agenda

A pre-planned list of items to be discussed at a board meeting, including consent agenda, discussion items, action items and information items.

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Consent Agenda

Routine items requiring no discussion, often financial updates or meeting minutes.

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New Board Member Seating

Process for onboarding new board members, involving meetings, applications, and observation before voting.

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Board Officer Selection

Annual election of board officers by the board development committee and approval by other board members.

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Conflict of Interest Declaration

Duty to disclose conflicts of interest to the board and abstain from voting on related matters.

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Board Operating Procedures

Established rules and guidelines for board conduct, including procedures for conflict resolution and decision-making.

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Agenda Prep

The Executive director prepares the board agenda, and the president/vice-president reviews and approves it.

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Item Removal from Consent Agenda

A board member can request an item on the consent agenda to be moved to the regular agenda for full discussion, if needed.

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Conflict of Interest

A situation where a person's personal interests could clash with their duty to an organization.

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Interested Parties

Board members, executive director, staff, relatives and associates of these individuals.

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Conflict Avoidance

Strategies to prevent conflicts of interest from arising.

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Disclosure Procedure

A process for reporting potential conflicts of interest.

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Objective Decision-Making

Decisions made impartially and without bias.

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Policy Supplement

Rules and guidelines that enhance, but don't replace, existing laws related to conflicts of interest.

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Public Confidence

The trust and faith the public has in the organization.

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Impropriety Avoidance

Actions taken by the organization to prevent the appearance of unethical behavior.

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Study Notes

Executive Service Corps of Washington Best Practice Materials for Nonprofit Boards

  • The Executive Service Corps of Washington provides best practice materials for nonprofit boards.
  • The materials include guidance on the role of the board, board recruitment, board policies, and resources.
  • The document contains a table of contents listing various sections and subsections within the document.

Introduction

  • Materials are templates, starting points, should be modified to fit specific organizational needs.
  • Forming an effective board requires a clear understanding of benefits, end results, and costs.
  • A single point of administrative authority is needed.

Section 1: Role of the Board

  • Nonprofit organizations need a board president/chair, vice president/vice chair, secretary, and treasurer.
  • The board's role is to establish a framework for the organization, define benefits to stakeholders, cost, and measures of success.
  • The board sets the organizational direction through goals and strategies.
  • Boards are responsible for defining executive director responsibilities and expectations.
  • Board and executive director responsibilities are outlined.

Section 2: Board Recruitment

  • Checklist of materials for potential board members is included.
  • Recruitment procedures and considerations are covered (e.g., candidate profiles, interview process, potential challenges).
  • Types of board members include activists, sustainers, professionals, and emeritus.

Section 3: Board Policies

  • Whistleblower policy, procedures, and sample board policies for new 990 questions are provided.
  • Conflicts of interest, document retention, and private inurement policies are covered.

Section 4: Resources

  • Information about various resources (websites, organizations, etc.) is provided to support nonprofit boards.

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Best Practice Materials for Nonprofit Boards PDF

Description

This quiz explores best practice materials provided by the Executive Service Corps of Washington for nonprofit boards. It covers the roles, responsibilities, and essential templates that can help in forming effective boards. Understand the key components that contribute to successful governance in nonprofit organizations.

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