Board Composition Matrix<\/a> (PDF) Board Development Pre-Assessment<\/a> (PDF) Board of Directors’ Assessment<\/a> (PDF) Board Member’s Activity Report<\/a> (PDF) Board Meeting Minutes<\/a> (PDF) Content for a Board Membership Manual<\/a> (PDF) Form for Prospective Board Candidates<\/a> (PDF) Form to Evaluate an Individual Board Member<\/a> (PDF) Form to Evaluate Board Meetings<\/a> (PDF) How to Pick a Nonprofit Board to Serve On<\/a><\/p>\n NYC Good Governance Blueprint<\/a> (PDF)<\/p>\n What You Need to Know BEFORE You Serve on a Board<\/a> (PDF) Individual Board Member’s Fund Development Plan<\/a> (PDF) Document Destruction and Retention Policy<\/a> (PDF) Sample\u2014Code of Ethics for Board Members<\/a> (PDF) Sample\u2014Conflict of Interest Policy<\/a> (PDF) Sample\u2014Board Member Contract<\/a> (PDF) Tips for Developing Bylaws<\/a> (PDF) Sample\u2014Whistleblower Policy<\/a> (PDF) Annual Evaluation of the Executive Director<\/a> (PDF) Consent Agenda<\/a> (PDF) Current Salary Survey<\/a> (PDF) Emergency Succession Plan<\/a> (PDF) Exit Interview for Employees<\/a> (PDF) Sample\u2014Executive Director Contract<\/a> (PDF) Sample\u2014Social Media Tactical Plan<\/a> (PDF)
\nIs your board membership diversified? Are members actively involved? Use this helpful tool to get a snapshot of your board.<\/p>\n
\nWould your board benefit from board training? Are some of the board members unsure of their role? Do some board members seem disengaged? This pre-assessment helps you assess your need for board development.<\/p>\n
\nStart your new board year with reflection and clear direction.<\/p>\n
\nAn excellent way for board members to be aware of their individual activity and engagement over the year. Can also be used as a kick-off to discussion with board chair.<\/p>\n
\nEvery nonprofit board has a legal obligation to take minutes of its board meetings. Minutes serve as the record of the actions that the board has taken in light of its informed, prudent deliberations and decision making.<\/p>\n
\nA useful and important tool for nonprofit organizations is the board manual or handbook. Here are some guidelines on how to put one together.<\/p>\n
\nA questionnaire to help determine if prospective board members are a good fit for your organization.<\/p>\n
\nHow effective a board member are you? This individual self-evaluation will help you personally assess your board service.<\/p>\n
\nA quick self-assessment to gauge the effectiveness of your board of director meetings.<\/p>\n
\nServing as a board member can be one of the most important, challenging and rewarding experiences of your life. Board members have important legal and fiduciary responsibilities that require a commitment of time, skill and resources.<\/p>\n
\nA useful tool to help individual board members clarify their commitment to the organization and develop their personal fundraising plan to support the mission.<\/p>\n
\nBoard Documents<\/h2>\n
\nDocument retention is a required practice for all corporations, including nonprofits. Adopting a policy for document retention and destruction ensures that you are in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.<\/p>\n
\nA Code of Ethics for board members helps define your organization’s principles and acceptable practices and provides guidance and direction for board conduct and decision making.<\/p>\n
\nA sample conflict of interest statement for board members.<\/p>\n
\nUnderstanding roles and responsibilities is an essential element of successful boards. This sample board member contract defines responsibilities from both organization and board member perspectives.<\/p>\n
\nBylaws are the internal rules and regulations that guide a board\u2019s activity and answer important procedural questions. They provide a roadmap for how the board operates. In addition to having them reviewed from a legal perspective, bylaws should reflect how the board wants to conduct its affairs. Equally important is that the board abides by its bylaws.<\/p>\n
\nEnhance your organization’s public accountability and transparency while providing your employees with the necessary protections for blowing the whistle.<\/p>\n
\nResources<\/h2>\n
\nAn evaluation of the executive is an integral responsibility of an organization’s board of directors. The process by which boards fulfill this obligation varies. Here is a template that provides a sample executive evaluation.<\/p>\n
\nA useful tool for helping your board meetings run smoothly and efficiently.<\/p>\n
\nValuable information on salary ranges for many different positions in several cities in the Northeast area.<\/p>\n
\nWhat would happen if your organization was faced with the unexpected and sudden departure of your executive director? Adopting an Emergency Succession Plan can help you ensure that essential functions continue uninterrupted by outlining a plan for the appointment of an acting executive director.<\/p>\n
\nWhen an employee leaves an organization, an exit interview is a helpful tool.<\/p>\n
\nA contract can help lay the groundwork for a successful relationship between your board and new executive director.<\/p>\n
\nA plan that includes tactical objectives used to accomplish social media goals.<\/p>\n