The Nonprofit Board Answer Book: A Practical Guide for Board Members and Chief Executives

Overview

One of BoardSource’s best-selling books, The Nonprofit Board Answer: A Practical Guide for Board Members and Chief Executives Book provides answers to the most-commonly asked questions about governance.This book is a hands-on guide for board members, chief executives, and others who are charged with leading their organizations. Board members will learn how to be more effective in dealing with everyday challenges; chief executives will gain insight into how to build a strong partnership with their board.

We include information on topics that have recently increased in importance, including the new Form 990, dealing with the financial crisis, risk management, and strategic partnerships. Designed to be user-friendly, it is written in an easy-to-use question-and-answer format and includes actions steps and examples.

Whether you are new to nonprofit governance or a seasoned veteran, you will undoubtedly encounter thorny board-related questions. The Nonprofit Board Answer Book provides the answers to 85 of the most-commonly asked questions that boards struggle with. The answers are based on more than two decades of BoardSource experience gleaned from working with thousands of boards around the world.

The book covers a wealth of information on a wide variety of topics:

• Board roles and responsibilities
• Board structure and size
• Board member recruitment and development
• Board and committee meetings
• Board’s role as a fiduciary
• Board-staff relations
• Organizational change

“A better, more accessible overview of nonprofit board governance simply does not exist.The Nonprofit Board Answer Book addresses every conceivable challenge all nonprofit boards, as well as their key staff, must eventually confront — from ensuring that fundraising is on the board’s radar to outlining how new board members should be oriented to providing recommendations on how best to navigate the often-awkward relations between the board and management. This book is essential reading (and re-referencing for anyone serious about the role of the board in today’s nonprofit world.”
– Doug White, academic director, The Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising, New York University, and author of The Nonprofit Challenge

“Any question a board has about governance can be answered in this book. I was particularly impressed with the activities listed after each question. I would highly recommend The Nonprofit Board Answer Book to nonprofit organizations.”
– Carol Goss, president & CEO, The Skillman Foundation