Know the Job

What is the board's job?

The ways in which boards carry out this role differ from one organization to another. For instance, a "Policy Board" tends to concern itself primarily with planning, determining the overall direction of the organization, and creating and evaluating major policies, while a "Working Board" also concerns itself with operations, often in a hands-on manner.

Regardless of which of the models of board governance your board aligns itself with, it is important that your entire board has a common perception of its role and the approach by which it fulfills this role.

Learning the job

How does the board develop a common understanding of its role? In many non-profits this is an area that is overlooked because it is incorrectly assumed everyone knows what is expected of them. Here are a few ways that your board can help its members and others to understand the board's roles and responsibilities:

• Provide instruction on board roles and responsibilities through orientation sessions, board manuals or board training for all new members.
• Offer ongoing board development sessions that include training for all board members on board roles and responsibilities.
• Communicate the board's governance style in writing so board members understand how they are to carry out their role, and so that staff and others have appropriate expectations of the bounds of the board's involvement in the organization.
• Provide all board members with written expectations for their board membership, such as meeting attendance and committee service.
• Create job descriptions for board members generally and for officers, other specific positions, and committees of the board.
• Evaluate the board and its individual members in the performance of their roles and responsibilities and in the progress towards their strategic goals.

The job of a steward involves trust. Look in more detail now at your board's responsibility to maintain public trust.

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