What’s the role of the board?

In any nonprofit organization, there are 5 functions that must be fulfilled if the organization is going to be considered effective. These functions are:

• Governance
• Leadership
• Management
• Micromanagement
• Execution

The board’s role lies solely within the first function—Governance. Governance should be the focus and the purpose of board meetings. What kinds of things do boards govern around? Mission, direction, organizational policy, and assessment of how the organization is meeting…or not meeting…its stated purpose. That’s the role of the board.

When issues arise, it’s usually because the board is either failing to govern effectively or because the board is overstepping its bounds and acting within another function.

When it comes to running an organization, everything is either governance or not governance. The other roles are taken on by people who hold various positions within the organization. For example, the CEO is the leader and is in charge of directing the staff to meet the stated mission. Supervisors and administrative staff are in charge of overseeing operations and managing the minute details that are important to success. But the board has one role – to govern!

In just a few weeks, my next book, The Intentional Board: Why Your Board Doesn’t Work, and How to Fix It will be released. If your board is struggling to stay within the bounds of governance, I recommend ordering a copy today. My book can change the way you look at boards and their role within an organization.