I’ll be on Nonprofit Radio speaking with host Tony Martignetti this Friday at 10:30 am PT / 1:30 pm ET discussing agenda items nonprofit boards should get on the board calendar at the start of the year. You can tune in to the live feed on Talking Alternative or catch...
BOARDS / GOVERNANCE
An engaged board can be one of the most important organizational assets of a nonprofit. But nonprofit boards are often underutilized and are not always effective in significantly advancing an organization’s mission. Educating boards and executives about their legal duties, practical steps to take to effectively meet those duties, and best practices in mitigating exposure to organizational and personal liability/harm is key to establishing board engagement and effectiveness.
7 Reasons to Review Your Bylaws Now
The bylaws of a nonprofit corporation are the board’s internal rules and instruction manual for how the nonprofit is governed. It may be the nonprofit’s single most important document. Here are 7 reasons why you should review your bylaws for legal and internal compliance: 1. To ensure legal compliance...
2 Questions Nonprofit Board Members Should Consider on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Beyond
On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, consider the following two questions: Is social justice a core value of your organization and something you strive for in pursuit of advancing its mission? Is your organization investing its resources consistent with its values in a meaningful way? How to Be a Racial Justice...
Nonprofit Board Meetings – Calendar of Agenda Items
As a supplement to our earlier post, What Issues Should a Nonprofit Board Consider Annually, we have created a calendar of priority agenda items for the board of directors of a hypothetical nonprofit organization, The Futureland Foundation. Generally, priority items should be discussed early in the agenda to best...
Best of the Nonprofit Law Blog 2014
Here are some selected highlights from NEO Law Group over the past year that we hope you’ll find helpful. 2014 was also highlighted by an addition to Erin’s family and Michele’s graduation and passage of the bar exam! Amazing year for all of us. Blog Posts Governance What Issues Should a...
What Issues Should a Nonprofit Board Consider Annually?
As the end of a year approaches, a nonprofit’s board of directors should begin to reflect on a number of issues involving governance and management of the organization to encourage its growth and success. Among the areas that boards will want to review include corporate formalities, financial oversight, programs...
Pearson Charitable Foundation to Dissolve
A few weeks ago, the Board of Directors of Pearson Charitable Foundation, the Section 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with the educational publishing company Pearson PLC, announced that it will be closing the Foundation at the end of the year after a decade of operations. According to the Foundation’s website, the...
Nonprofit Radio: Managing Dissent on Your Boards
The University of Virginia’s governing body found itself under some heat earlier this year when its proposal to silence board members from publicly voicing their dissent from board actions was made public. Ultimately, the proposed policy was abandoned and with good reason. But the broader issue of how to manage...
Nonprofit Laws for Human Resources Managers to Be Aware Of
It may not be the responsibility of an HR manager in the nonprofit sector to be aware of all of the laws that apply to nonprofits. However, there are some laws that have impact specifically on matters within the purview of the HR department that are worth being aware...
Executive Succession: 10 Tips for Boards
Executive succession planning is undoubtably one of the board’s most important responsibilities. Many, if not most, nonprofit boards will need to deal with finding a new executive within the next 5 years. And selecting the individual who will lead the organization’s day-to-day management, implement the organization’s plan, follow the board’s...