1. Non-profit Governance Models/Board Types
“What’s the best fit for your organization?”

2. “Why do you want to have a Board?”
Importance of a Board
Why have one?
Gather expertise from people outside your staff team
Have many voices represented to guide your organization
Support for your senior leader
Continuity and organizational memory during leadership transitions
Many other reasons involving oversight, strategy, risk, etc.
You have to, if you want to incorporate
“Why do you want to have a Board?”

3. Importance of a Board
If you incorporate, your governing body is a Board of Directors or Board of Trustees.
Whether or not your group is incorporated, a governing body is beneficial; it can play many important roles to enhance the impact of your work in the community.
Even if you don’t have a “Board”, you can use this toolkit to decide the role you want your governing body to play.

4. Governance Model/Board Types
Board plays different roles in organizations, and their roles are characterized by different Governance Models/Board Types.
Examples of organizational elements that determine your Governance Model/Board Type:
Size of your staff team
Skills/Expertise of your staff team
Number and Types of programs and services your offer

5. Governance Model/Board Types
Your Governance Model/Board Type can evolve & change as your organizations grows and changes.

6. Governance Model/Board Types
Operating/Working Board
Policy Board
Policy Governance Board
Collective Board
Management Board
Constituent Representational Board
Traditional Board
Result-Based Board
Advisory Board
Resource Sheet 1-3:
Nonprofit Governance Models/Board Types 1 & 2
Characteristics of Key Governance Models

7. Operating/Working Board
Governance
Programs
Services
&
Operations
Operating/Working Board

8. Board
Committee 1
Committee 2
Committee 3 ED
Chair
Policy Board

9. Policy Governance Board
Members
Owners
Board
Input/Limits ED
Staff
Clients
FEEDBACK
Policy Governance Board

10. Governance, Operations, Programs & Services
Board
Staff
Governance, Operations, Programs & Services
Collective Board

11. Beyond Governance Model/Board Types
Models are only half the picture; The effectiveness of a Board depends on both the Model/Type selected and the people on the Board.
Remember to look for:
Commitment
Competence
Diversity

12. General Board Member Duties
Communication: Create open & transparent communications to the public, & between the organization and Members, funders, & stakeholder
Policy Development: Establish the organization’s Mission, Vision, and overall direction
Fiscal Responsibility: Ensure financial health of the organization
Human Resources Management: Performance management, monitoring and evaluation
Risk Management: Succession planning
Operation: Direct organizational operations
Partnership: Reach out to create relations with diverse stakeholders and communities

13. Quiz Time! Why is having a governing body important?
What organizational factors determine the model?
Name four of Governance Model/Board Types.

14. Contact
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