Do you feel as though your nonprofit’s board of directors is like a shelf full of rubber stamps — in other words, they pretty much just approve everything you put in front of them with few (if any) questions?

On the other hand, do you have one or more members who are so involved and present that they’re practically standing over your shoulder?

These are just two examples of the many ways in which nonprofit governance can hinder both fundraising and the overall effectiveness of your organization.

Shaping Your Nonprofit Board

Fortunately, there are things that you can do (as either a board or staff member) to shape your board so that it functions as a healthy, productive team.

Not only that, but there are things you almost have to do in order to convince potential donors that your nonprofit should be on their personal giving lists. Why?

Because more than ever before, funders (particularly major donors) want to know how the pieces of a nonprofit’s organizational puzzle fit together and if the result looks like a coherent picture — or a free-form mess.

The First Step

The first step is knowing what a nonprofit board is supposed to do, and what it is not. From there, you can move on to looking at your overall board structure and your organization’s effectiveness when it comes to recruiting the members you need, not just more “bodies.”

While this blog will talk about the particulars of nonprofit governance from time to time, I’ve also created a free eBook that you can use today to start evaluating your board, the interaction between your board and staff, and whether or not your nonprofit’s board has the most effective possible structure.

If nonprofit governance is something that you want to learn about because your organization is having problems or for your own professional growth, get An Effective Board-Staff Partnership: Your ‘Secret Weapon’ For Fundraising Success today — click here — it’s free.

Note any questions you have about An Effective Board-Staff Partnership in the comments below — I’m eager to help!