Board Chair and Chief Executive Responsibilities
A strong partnership between the chief executive and board chair is essential to leading an effective organization. When the relationship goes awry, it’s often due to confusion over individual responsibilities.
In general, the chief executive’s role is focused on management and working with staff to implement programs and initiatives in support of the organization’s purpose. The board chair is responsible for governance and oversight, leading the board in evaluating the organization’s work from a macro-perspective and ensuring that the work advances the mission in an ethical and legal manner.
But how do these general roles manifest in key responsibilities, such as fundraising or board meetings? Read on to find out.
POLICY AND PLANNING
Board Chair/Governance
Develops and/or reviews guiding principles (mission, vision, values), purpose, and policies
Ensures effective planning, overseeing board involvement in development and approval of strategic plan
Monitors organization’s programs and services in support of the mission and strategic plan
Shared
Strategic planning and program evaluation
Mission impact
Organizational growth and sustainability
Chief Executive/Management
Commits to and carries out mission
Provides administrative support for board policymaking
Engages the board in planning Implements strategic plan
Monitors the quality and effectiveness of individual programs, providing board with data and information needed to evaluate program effectiveness, impact, and outcomes
BUDGET AND FINANCES
Board Chair/Governance
Ensures adequate financial resources; protects assets; provides financial oversight
Reviews and approves annual budget
Oversees annual audit process
Shared
Fiscal stewardship
Chief Executive/Management
Prepares and proposes budget to board
Manages programs according to board-adopted financial policies and budget guidelines
FUNDRAISING AND DEVELOPMENT
Board Chair/Governance
Maximizes board member participation in resource development; oversees approval of fundraising plan
Attends fundraising events, cultivates donors, and makes a personal contribution
Solicits contributions from board members
Shared
Solicit contributions from outside donors
Engage board members in fundraising activities
Evaluate effectiveness of fundraising strategies
Chief Executive/Management
Develops fundraising plan and coordinates overall fundraising efforts
Ensures staff support for board fundraising
Updates board on development efforts
BOARD MEETINGS
Board Chair
Leads and facilitates board meetings
Shared
Develop meeting agenda
Chief Executive
Ensures that board members have necessary information and meeting materials
Attends meetings, except specific executive sessions
COMMITTEE WORK
Board Chair
Ensures that board has effective committee and task force structure
Appoints board committee and task force chairs
Serves as ex officio, non-voting member of all committees, except the governance committee when discussing elections
Keep board informed of committee and task force work
Shared
Develop and review committee structure and individual committees to ensure alignment with mission and strategic goals
Identify committee members
Chief Executive
Sits in on appropriate committee meetings as non-voting member
Ensures that committee members have staff support and needed materials/information
BOARD RECRUITMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
Board Chair
Ensures strategic board building and recruitment
Sets goals and expectations for the board
Cultivates leadership among individual board members
Prioritizes board development, including orientation and educational sessions
Shared
Identify skills, expertise, and attributes needed for board diversity
Keep all board members engaged in the work of the organization
Keep an equity mindset
Chief Executive
Develops and sustains strong working relationships with board members
Shares appropriate information to keep board informed and educated about ongoing organizational activities and changes in the field in which the organization works
Identifies potential new board members and participates in orientation
BOARD ASSESSMENT
Board Chair
Ensures regular opportunities for assessment
Oversees comprehensive board assessment every two years
Shared
Evaluate assessment results and identify board development opportunities in collaboration with governance committee
Chief Executive
Assists board assessment process
STAFF OVERSIGHT, COMPENSATION, EVALUATION
Board Chair
Oversees hiring, compensation, and evaluation of chief executive Ensures chief executive succession plan exists
Shared
Provide general oversight to ensure strong and effective staff resources
Chief Executive
Oversees and evaluates all staff
Sets staff salaries within budget constraints
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Board Chair
Promotes the work of the organization and encourages board members to do so as well; advocates for the organization’s purpose with public policy makers
Speaks for the board when a controversy or crisis arises
Shared
With full board and staff, develop message that conveys the organization’s purpose effectively and can be used consistently by everyone within the organization
Public policy advocacy
Chief Executive
Serves as public face and official spokesperson for the organization
Coordinates public relations and communications and advocacy efforts