Note: This article has received constant attention since being published in May 2010. I am reissuing it here in the event some new readers might have missed it.What’s in a Name? Benefits of the President/CEO TitleInsights into Nonprofit Governance and Nonprofit ManagementBY EUGENE FRAM Over the last 100 years, senior managers of nonprofits typically have held the executive director title. For about the last 30 years, many nonprofits have changed the title to president/CEO, following a common business practice. Many more nonprofits need to consider the same change to obtain some subtle but useful organizational benefits. A recent study reports that only 22 percent of trade association chief staff officers hold the president/CEO title. For professional societies, the proportion is only 9 percent.1 Many chief staff officers in larger faith-based human service and health-related organizations still hold the executive director title. Even the senior manager of Carnegie Hall in New York City still carries the executive director title. A wide range of nonprofits use the executive director title: churches, human service agencies, trade associations, and medical facilities. (more…) |
non-profit management
How Is Trust Developed Between The Nonprofit Board Chair And The Chief Executive?
How is trust developed between the nonprofit board chair and the chief executive?
By Eugene Fram
First, in order to maintain trust between the board chair and CEO, the chair must be certain that the evaluation of the organization and the performance evaluation of the CEO are inclusive, i.e., cover a balance of the most relevant outcomes. Otherwise, the evaluation outcomes have the potential to damage the trust relationship that’s necessary to drive organizational growth. (more…)
NONPROFIT BOARD RELATIONSHIPS: SHOULD THE CEO FOLLOW OR LEAD THE BOARD IN FUND-RAISING?
Who in a nonprofit organization is responsible for fund-raising? Should the CEO follow or lead the board?
By Eugene Fram
The CEO is the advance guard when it comes to fund-raising. First and foremost, he/she has to be alert to all places where the CEO can raise funds on his/her own initiative. (more…)
HOW DOES A CEO DECLINE BOARD ADVICE?
How does a president/CEO turn down advice about operations or internal structure from the board.
by Eugene Fram
With difficulty. It all depends on the type of culture that has been established by the board. Ideally, the president/CEO should be comfortable saying, (more…)
Limits on President/CEO’s Fiscal Discretion
Do boards set a dollar limit on the president/CEO’s fiscal discretion?
The chief executive should have complete discretion as long as he or she works within the budget and budgetary guidelines. However, if any major changes are needed, the board must approve them. For example, (more…)
NONPROFIT CEO-BOARD CHAIR RELATIONSHIPS
The Special Relationship:
Nurturing the CEO-Board Chair Bond
By Eugene Fram
Here are tips to assure the best possible partnership between the board chair and CEO.
Keeping boards focused on strategic issues is a major challenge for nonprofit leaders. One problem is that (more…)
Your Dysfunctional Nonprofit Board – What to Do
YOUR DYSFUNCTIONAL NONPROFIT BOARD – WHAT TO DO
Is your nonprofit board operating on two cylinders instead of six cylinders
needed for our current turbulent economic times? The updated and expanded third edition of Policy vs Paper Clips (http://policy-vs-paper-clips.com) on nonprofit governance is one vehicle to help a board to remedy this operating gap.
Thousands of nonprofit executives and board members, by reading the first two editions, have: (more…)
RESPECT FOR DEDICATION OF NONPROFIT MANAGERS & STAFF
Contents of “Policy vs. Paper Clips” – Third Edition (See Amazon Books)
The book is about developing a governance model which is professional, flexible, and efficient, has a simple structure (3 standing committees), requires a secure chief executive, (more…)
Policy vs.Paper Clips – Third Edition.
January 30, 2011
Nonprofit Governance Pioneer Publishes 3rd Edition
Dr. Eugene Fram is a pioneer in the nonprofit governance arena. Before John Carver or the folks at Board Source or pretty much any of the folks thinking and writing about nonprofit board governance, there was the illustrious Eugene Fram.
So, I’m anxiously awaiting the 3rd edition of Policy vs. Paperclips and sight unseen I am willing to say (more…)
NonProfit Management/Governance – Avoiding Fraud – Internal Controls
Nonprofit boards do not have effective ways to reduce nonprofit fraud is a common misconception among nonprofit board directors. Board directors should be familiar with seven audit-related topics. In today’s vigilant environment, the board must be involved. (more…)
Nonprofit Management 