Author: eugenefram

Dr. Eugene Fram has over 25 years experience as a non-profit board member, consultant, and author. His model of nonprofit governance has been adopted by thousands of organizaations.

A Nonprofit Board’s Best Friend — A Robust Business Plan — Huffington Post Article

A Nonprofit Board’s Best Friend — A Robust Business Plan — Huffington Post Article

By Eugene Fram

The key to long-term success for a nonprofit board is to seriously evaluate business plans on a regular schedule, even if a status quo plan is desired.
http://huff.to/1kAh1gU

Nonprofit Boards 2014 – Two Recurring Concerns of Directors & Managers

Nonprofit Boards 2014 – Two Recurring Concerns of Directors & Managers

Viewing responses to my blog-site over the past year has provided me with a window to topics that obviously interest nonprofit directors and managers. An unusually strong surge of viewing responses to the following two blog-posts convinced me that both issues were universal to the nonprofit governance environment. (more…)

An Action Agenda for Nonprofit Board Management Discussions

An Action Agenda for Nonprofit Board Management Discussions

By: Eugene Fram

The PwC Network has published a list of director considerations related to improving director-management discussions. * Following is my interpretation of how some of the PwC suggestions shown in bold font, might apply to nonprofit directors and managements. (more…)

Civil and Honest Discourse Needed for Nonprofit Boards

Civil and Honest Discourse Needed for Nonprofit Boards
Huffington Post Impact Section – Posted: 01/03/2014 9:31 pm http://huff.to/1lIWFNM

By:Eugene Fram

In recent years, I have noted some nonprofit board meeting environments have been developing into two distinctly different types: (1) a board consensus resulting from directors’ desires not to develop conflicts with peers, or (2) uncivil discourses based on political beliefs, especially when the CEO and board chair subscribe to different political parties. (more…)

Management Expectations of the Board – The Nonprofit Story – Part II Revised/Updated

Management Expectations of the Board – The Nonprofit Story – Part II Revised/Updated

I am indebted to Dr. Richard Leblanc of York University for the action headings used in this blog. The blog uses headings developed by Dr. Leblanc for his blog: “What a Board Expects from Management, and What Management Expects from a Board, January 27, 2013, York University Governance Gateway Blog. (rleblanc.aps01.yorku.ca) For reading simplicity, Dr. Leblanc’s specific quotations, which can apply to either FP or NFP boards, are noted in italics. (more…)

Updated Bibliography for 2013 & Seasons Greetings to my 400 Followers

Eugene Fram, Professor Emeritus

Saunders College of Business

Rochester Institute of Technology

frameugene@gmail.com

Articles or Coauthored Articles Related to For-Profit & Nonprofit Governance

December 2013

*Indicates Coauthored Publication (more…)

Board Expectations from Management – The Nonprofit Story – Part I Updated/Revised

Board Expectations from Management – The Nonprofit Story – Part I Updated/Revised

I am indebted to Dr. Richard Leblanc of York University for the action headings used in this blog. The blog uses headings developed by Dr. Leblanc for his blog: “What a Board Expects from Management, and What Management Expects from a Board,” January 27, 2013, York University Governance Gateway Blog. (rleblanc.aps01.yorku.ca) For reading simplicity, Dr. Leblanc’s specific quotations, which can apply to either FP or NFP boards, are noted in italics. (more…)

Once Again! Should a Nonprofit CEO Be a Voting Member of the Board of Directors?

The question continues to be debated, and the need for comment and opinion seems insatiable.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eugene-fram/once-again-should-a-nonpr_b_4408917.html

2014 Thoughts for Nonprofit Board Members

2014 Thoughts for Nonprofit Board Members

By Eugene Fram

Nonprofit board members and managers should be interested in two sections of the 2014 predictions from the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, * which can be extended to nonprofit governance. <!–more–>

  • …[T]he focus has shifted from check-the- box policies to more complex questions such as how to strike the right balance in recruiting directors with complementary skill sets and diverse perspectives. … 

(more…)

How A Nonprofit Board Director Can Initiate Positive Change

 How A Nonprofit Board Director Can Initiate Positive Change

By: Eugene Fram

A nonprofit board member comes up with an idea that he thinks will do wonders for the organization. He is convinced that establishing a for-profit subsidiary will not only be compatible with the group’s mission but may even bring in new sources of revenue. It’s his ball–now what’s the best route to run with it? All too often in the nonprofit environment, initiating change can be as daunting as trying to get consensus in the US Congress! There are, however, certain interpersonal levers, which, if pushed, can accelerate the process–although one hopes that not all the levers will be needed in any specific situation. (more…)