Introduction
Board membership comes with a set of responsibilities. This lesson outlines the 5 main responsibilities of board members. Understanding these responsibilities will ensure a strong and functional board.
Board Members’ 5 Main Responsibilities
Controlling the purse
- Adequate financial records and controls
- Fundraising
- Adhering to the 3 core fiduciary duties
Determining the Organization’s mission, purpose, and objectives
- Mission and vision statements should align with the organization’s goals
Setting policies, acting as the legislative body of the organization
- Sometimes facilitated within a governance committee
Selecting, hiring, and annually evaluating the Executive Director
- For organizations with the capacity to have operations facilitated by an Executive Director
Ensuring effective organizational planning
Organizational planning and strategic planning are often treated synonymous. Strategic planning is one part of of organizational planning. Organizational charts can be effective in aiding with planning and knowing who owns what task. Some examples of organizational charts can be found Here.
Strategic Planning – Looking into and planning for the long term. Most of this is facilitated by the board and might be aided by an executive director.
Tactical Planning – Offers translation from strategic planning to implementation. Most of this is facilitated by the executive director or, if there is no executive director, by those navigating operations.
Operational Planning – Day to day affairs. Most of this is facilitated by the executive director and management staff if applicable. Otherwise those in the board navigating operations will facilitate.
Contingency Planning – Emergency planning preparing the organization for navigating disruptions should they occur. Most of this is facilitated by upper management and the board. Some boards might wish to establish a contingency planning committee to navigate these affairs.