Board Recruitment, Development & Decisions-Making

Lesson Learned Guiding Principles

Key responsibilities of the Board are:

  • establishment and maintenance of the vision, mission and values of the organization.
  • legal responsibility for fiscal accountability
  • legal responsibility terms of the agency’s compliance with legislation and policy
  • representation of the organization to the funder and to the public
  • monitoring costs, functions and activities in order to ensure that resources are managed effectively
  • approving overall planning and direction
  • selecting the E.D.
  • performance appraisal of the E.D.
  • Board continuity and self-management.

Lesson Learned Key Success Factors in Board Recruitment

Have a good policy on the role of the nominating committee.  These committee members have wisdom and tact; they are circumspect, persuasive, and know the membership.

Food For Thought

If you have a bigger Board, is everyone really engaged?  Is it better to have a smaller Board of all fully-engaged people, or a bigger Board that may be more representative of the community, but in which not all are contributing?

Notes from the Field

“Over the past years our Board has reviewed various governance styles.  What has worked best for us is a flexible Board willing to help out in whatever style is appropriate at the time.  In the beginning when we were smaller, it was useful to have the Board more involved in various activities that might be considered more operational.  However this was always at the invitation of the Executive Director and not at the direction of the Board.  With more maturity as an organization our Board has evolved into a more governance board however they are very active in areas appropriate to their position.”

Victoria County Career Services Inc., Lindsay

Recommended Resources

Boardmatch is a program developed by Altruvest Charitable Services.  Its mission is to expand the talent pool, and enhance the governance skills of charitable sector Boards and senior leaders.

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