nonprofit director term limits

How Long Should A Nonprofit Director Serve?

How Long Should A Nonprofit Director Serve?

By: Eugene Fram

Nonprofit board terms are like clothing sizes.  They come in all shapes and sizes!

Some terms are as short as two years, with the charter specifying the person remain off the board for one year.  Other charters have systems that allow a director to remain for decades.  The most common format allows the director a two three-year terms, with some exceptions relating to whether the person is originally filing an interim year or chairs the board in his/or her final year. (more…)

What’s required to develop a positive nonprofit board culture?

What’s required to develop a positive nonprofit board culture?

 

  1. In order to maintain trust between the board chair and the CEO, the board chair must be certain that the evaluation of the organization and the personal evaluation of the CEO are inclusive, i.e., cover a balance of the most relevant outcomes.
  2. The interpersonal chemistry between the board chair and the CEO must be a positive one.  If the interpersonal chemistry is poor, civil discourse at meetings is hard to maintain.
  3. The CEO needs to be flexible. He or she needs to accommodate to a new boss every year or two and can’t become complacent.  The CEO needs to be alert to the fact the board, often initialed by a new chair, may want to move in a new direction. 

 

Directors & CEO Alert: Never underestimate the power of the established board culture as a barrier when attempting to make changes.  However in some instances culture can be an asset in change management.

 

 

Source: “Policy vs. Paper Clips” Third Edition, 2011, pp. 156-157.