Tips From The Trenches

• Date: 01 April 2018
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/ban.30671
• Published date: 01 April 2018

April 2018 • Volume 34 Number 8 7

DOI 10.1002/ban© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company • All rights reserved

Tips From The Trenches

Keep your board

out of liability trouble

Keep the board out of liability problems with

these four ideas:

1. Advise them to attend meetings. Liabil-

ity comes from negligence or not doing the job as

it should be done. That’s why a board member’s

meeting attendance is vital. They can be held re-

sponsible for actions taken in their absence. The

board should also review meeting minutes, and

board members should register any disagreements

in writing.

2. Advise them to know and follow their poli-

cies. Failure to abide by board policy is a common

source of litigation. The board should review its

policies on a regular schedule and update them to

reflect laws and regulations.

3. The board should know the laws that ap-

ply to the organization. Many state and federal

equal employment regulations affect personnel

policies that govern hiring and firing, for ex-

ample. The board should take the time to under-

stand them.

4. The board should request professional

advice and counsel when necessary. Remind

board members to seek an attorney’s opinion

for questions of law. The board should also use

auditors, accountants and other professionals

to ensure it is making good decisions. Ask your

organization’s attorney to discuss liability with

the board. ■

Find board members with ‘passion’

for your mission

The Center for Nonprofit Excellence offers

thesefive tips for selecting board members who

have a passion for your mission:

“1. Form a Nominating Committee made up

of current board members. If your organization

does not already have one in place, do so right

away.”

“2. Start by looking at your Strategic Plan to

determine the skills and connections your organi-

zation needs to meet its goal and objectives.”

“3. Place all current board member names, oc-

cupations, board roles and other pertinent infor-

Get the most out of

board ambassadors

In “Coach your board to be better ambassa-

dors,” board consultant and author Richard Male

suggests this strategy:

“Start with your board grid or an inventory

of your board members. Do you have witty ex-

troverts, excellent writers, seasoned educators,

scientists, etc. that can strengthen your image in

the community? Consider recruiting some com-

munications professionals if you don’t have board

talent in that area. Board members in banking

services, the insurance industry, retail/hospital-

ity, or almost any kind of sales are also naturals

for nonprofit outreach roles since they already

understand the power of networking and face-to-

face contact.”

For more information, go to http://goo.gl/

YPHV9v. ■

Retain good board members

Minnesota Nonprofits offers this advice on re-

taining your best board members:

“1. Prepare new board members with an orien-

tation staffed with employees and existing board

members. New board members should be given

collateral materials about the organization’s cur-

rent and recent activities, as well as any informa-

tion that will be useful in their position.”

“2. Thank and recognize board members to

sustain job satisfaction for volunteer board

members.”

“3. Conduct exit interviews for board members

who leave mid-term or after his or her term has

ended to learn more about their board experience.”

For more information, go to http://goo.gl/

6h2Yvx. ■

mation on a matrix that can be shared with the

nominating committee and board.”

“4. Update this matrix regularly and remember

that board recruitment is an ongoing dynamic pro-

cess. Ask current board members for referrals.”

“5. Consider having board members do a yearly

self-evaluation of their performance.”

For more information, go to http://goo.gl/

s4x5th. ■