CULTIVATING EFFECTIVE BOARDS FOR EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS
To solicit support for any of this content, please email strategicplanning@asacu.org and provide your name, state association name and the best time to get back to you. Candace Sarges will respond to you as soon as she can.
WHY THIS CONTENT WAS DEVELOPED
This content is generated from a survey that compared individual state board competencies with nonprofit board best practices. The survey identified where most state organizations need to evolve. These web pages were developed to provide state organizations starting points to improve obvious common shortcomings in state organization governance compared with best practices.
WHAT THIS CONTENT INCLUDES
What follows are guidelines on essentials your Board should be working toward developing best practices in your Board governance. Our goal is to provide a starting point. Your board is encouraged to do a deeper dive to meet your specific needs. Over time, this section will hopefully include more information as suggestions are received and boards collectively advance to higher levels of function.
BASIC LEGAL & FIDUCIARY DUTIES
Before diving in, please remember the legal and fiduciary duties that all board members share:
Duty of Care: Officers and directors must act in a manner which they believe to be in the best interests of the association.
Duty of Loyalty: Officers and directors must give undivided allegiance to the association when making decisions affecting the association.
Duty of Obedience: Requires the board members to act in accordance with the organization’s articles of incorporation, bylaws, and other governing documents, as well as all applicable laws and regulations.
ESSENTIALS of BOARD GOVERNANCE
As a member of your state association governing board, what are you responsible for? What should your board be doing?
INSTRUCTIONS
Please go through and check off the items that your state board currently has in place. The RED topic titles represent the basic categories of responsibilities and below them are a check list of items that should be in place to maximize board function. If any RED topic is missing any checkboxes, please click on the RED topic title for more information.
Organize and run the board in an efficient manner
Our board has an updated board manual that is shared with Board Members
Our board has a process for identifying, recruiting and onboarding new Board members.
Our board holds effective board meetings with a clear agenda and provides access to information needed for effective decision-making.
Define and deliver the Mission
Our board has a short and clear mission statement
Our board’s mission statement clearly defines our reason for existence, how our programs work and who we serve
Our state Associations’ current mission statement is appropriate for the association’s role in the next 2-4 years.
Strategic Planning
Our board has a strategic plan with clear objectives of how the organization should be performing over the next two to three years.
Our board has a vision statement that is future oriented and inspires commitment
Our board monitors progress toward achievement of strategic goals related to the organization.
Ensure resources are sufficient to carry out the Mission
Our board has a written fundraising development plan delineating the amount of funds needed and how and where those funds will be obtained
Our board monitors progress towards achievement of strategic goals and provides regular feedback to board members
Protect against financial and other risks
Our board has a clear understanding of the organization’s financial health.
Our Board understands its financial responsibility and has up to date risk management policies and liability insurance
Our board has established internal financial controls and assigned responsibility for cash management
Our board performs an annual audit with an outside auditor.
To solicit support for any of this content, please email strategicplanning@asacu.org and provide your name, state association name and the best time to get back to you. Candace Sarges will respond to you as soon as she can.