Welcome to the Board: Your Guide to Effective Participation

Foreword xi

Preface xiii

The Author xix

Part I: Board Membership in Perspective 1

1 On Joining a Board 3

2 The Qualities of a Good Board Member 5

3 What You Should Know About the Law Governing Nonprofits 9

4 A Nonprofit is not a Business 13

Part II Board Member Responsibilities 21

5 Your Role as a Board Member 23

6 Attending Board Meetings 27

7 Defining the Mission and Strategic Planning 29

8 Choosing and Evaluating the Chief Executive 35

9 Assuring Financial Responsibility 41

10 Supporting and Overseeing Programs 47

11 Participating in Fundraising 51

12 Keeping the Board Effective 63

Part III: Board Members and Boards 67

13 Board Organization and Procedures 69

14 Rights, Obligations, and Liabilities of Board Members 77

15 Leadership: Every Board Member Has a Role 85

Resources 89

A A Donor Bill of Rights 91

B The Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Standards for Charitable Solicitations 93

C National Charities Information Bureau’s Standards in Philanthropy 101

References 111

Index 113