board roles & responsibilities

The primary role of the Board of Directors is to fulfill, promote and perpetuate the mission of the organization. All of the following responsibilities and functions allow the board to legally and effectively perform in this role.

Fiduciary - Financial Well Being of Organization

Develop and administer financial policies

Provide for and review periodic financial statements and annual audit

Maintain appropriate level of risk management

Manage assets of organization

Governance - "Big Picture" Direction and Oversight

Determine and approve policies – financial (above), programs, personnel, operations

Establish organizational identity

Provide continuity, including perpetuation of board

Provide for accountability of program and management

Set boundaries for staff and operations

Set standards and evaluate board performance, both individually and as a group

Planning

Create a vision for the organization and its future, including outreach and fund raising

plans.

Set goals, objectives and workplans to further the mission of the organization

Monitor the progress of goals, objectives and workplans

Outreach

Educate the community, including specified target audiences, regarding the organization

and its mission

Determine and “sell” the organizational image

Monitor the progress of outreach plan

Fund Raising

Financially support the organization

Actively participate in the fund raising process, including meeting with funders,

connecting organization to resources, asking for money, etc.

Monitor the progress of fund raising plan

Staffing

Hire and fire Executive Director

Set and evaluate performance standards for Executive Director

Identify expected outcomes that staff is to achieve

Support work of staff

In the course of performing these functions...

Know the organization

Share expertise and leadership; make self available for consultation