TSB 035: Onboarding an Influx of New Board Members Part 1

Read Time: 2 minutes

This week's tip:  Onboarding new board members starts with a clear understanding of the Board's role.

Congratulations Nonprofit Executive!  You've brought in a few new board members to add fresh perspectives and help your organization reach its goals.

Now's the time to make sure they are onboarded properly and become active and engaged members of the team.

But first, let's make sure they are clear on the role of the board in supporting you and your organization. 

The most commonly agreed-upon responsibilities of nonprofit boards are as follows:

1. Governance and Leadership: The board is responsible for setting the mission, vision, and values of the organization. They establish policies, ensure legal and ethical compliance, and uphold the organization's bylaws.
2. Strategic Planning: The board plays a crucial role in long-term strategic planning. They work with the executive leadership team to define the organization's goals and objectives and establish a roadmap for achieving them.
3. Financial Oversight: Board members are responsible for ensuring the financial health and sustainability of the organization. They review and approve budgets, monitor financial performance, and ensure appropriate financial controls and accountability.
4. Fundraising and Resource Development: Board members often play an active role in fundraising efforts. They contribute their own financial resources, help secure donations from others, and cultivate relationships with donors, sponsors, and partners.
5. Hiring and Evaluation of Executive Leadership: The board typically hires and evaluates the performance of the executive director or CEO. They provide guidance and support to the executive leadership team, monitor their performance, and hold them accountable.
6. Risk Management: The board assesses and manages risks associated with the organization's operations. They establish risk management policies and ensure appropriate measures are in place to protect the organization's assets, reputation, and mission.
7. Advocacy and Community Engagement: Board members may act as ambassadors for the organization, representing it in the community, and advocating for its mission and goals. They help build relationships with stakeholders, collaborate with other organizations, and promote the organization's work.
8. Evaluation and Continuous Improvement: The board evaluates the organization's overall performance, assesses the impact of its programs and services, and monitors progress toward strategic goals. They identify areas for improvement and provide guidance on organizational development.

Take the time to go over each of these responsibilities and learn which areas are of greatest interest to your new members. Here is the IntuWork Nonprofit Board Responsibilities 1-Pager for you to use during your discussion.

Next week, we'll prepare them for board meeting participation.  That's all for today. I'll see you again next Saturday!

Whenever you're ready, there are three ways we can help you:

1. Register for one of our upcoming workshops here. 
2. Book me to speak at your upcoming event here.
3. Explore our consulting services here.