Trustee Boards

How Can Nonprofit Boards More Clearly Define Operational Responsibilities?

How Can Nonprofit Boards More Clearly Define Operational Responsibilities?

By Eugene Fram

My experience shows that well functioning nonprofit boards establish and monitor the organization’s policies. The board operates through the president/CEO. In turn, the CEO executes policy and is responsible for the prudent and creative operations of the organization. In this role, the CEO exercises leadership resulting in the effective and efficient use of board and of other volunteer time.

Although defining what are policy issues and what are operation issues is not always clear, for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations, following is a useful set of guidelines (more…)

Using Imperfict Metrics Well; Tracking Progress And Driving Change

This article on nonprofit evaluation has appeared in a shortened version in a previous blog. However, based on the attention it has received from all over the world, I thought that some viewers might like a direct link to the full article.

http://bit.ly/LLeuyU

A 21st Century Nonprofit Board of Directors – A Volunteer Director’s View

A 21st Century Nonprofit Board of Directors – A Volunteer Director’s View

By: Eugene Fram

Following are my estimates of the attributes a nonprofit board needs to be considered a high performing board in the 21st century.

Has organizational professionalism, flexibility & efficiency
• Operating managers consider themselves (more…)

Nonprofit & Trustees Personal Liabilities: Another Penn State Impact

Nonprofit & Trustees Personal Liabilities: Another Penn State Impact

By Eugene Fram

All nonprofit organizations should continue to follow the news from Penn state, especially with the insurer’s negative reactions to paying claims related to directors & officers personal liability for the Sandusky’s misdeeds.*

To what extent should nonprofits carry Director & Officers (D&O) insurance?

For example, I recently encountered a nonprofit board (more…)

From Mission Specialist to Nonprofit Manager –What Does It Require?

From Mission Specialist to Nonprofit Manager –What Does It Require?

By: Eugene Fram

In over there decades of nonprofit consulting, I have observed a wide range of nonprofit management skills and backgrounds.. One group is interesting because nonprofit boards often appoint mission specialists to executive director or president/CEO of the organization. Those who succeed (more…)

Do Nonprofit & Trustee Boards Need A Conflict of Interest ‘Parliamentarian”? –Second in a series of two.

Do Nonprofit & Trustee Boards Need A Conflict of Interest ‘Parliamentarian”? –Second in a series of two.

By Eugene Fram

There is ample news about conflict of interest on nonprofit and trustee boards. Based on several decades of board experience, I can’t remember a single instance where the topic has become a material issue. However, Google, taking only .29 seconds, lists over about 422,000 placements, related solely to nonprofit and trustee boards. (more…)

Interesting Conflict? Two Nonprofits Boards, Seeking Same Funding & Clients, Has One or More Board Directors Who Are the Same? — First of a series of two.

Interesting Conflict? Two Nonprofits Boards, Seeking Same Funding & Clients, Has One or More Board Directors Who Are the Same? — First of a series of two.

By Eugene Fram

It is not unusual to for two “competing” nonprofit’s to have a person(s) who fills a position on both boards. Examples: universities, and health care agencies. This dual volunteer deployment (more…)

Can A Nonprofit Organization Have A President/CEO & An Executive Director?

Can A Nonprofit Organization Have A President/CEO & An Executive Director?

By: Eugene H. Fram

Yes, if the organization has the following structure:

Board With A Volunteer Chairperson
President/CEO With Full Authority for Operations
Executive Director for Division A
Executive Director for Division B

However this structure (more…)

Trustee’s Lament: “We are accountable for what’s happened… We are deeply ashamed.”*

Trustee’s Lament: “We are accountable for what’s happened…  We are deeply ashamed.”*

Like the Penn State trustee, who bemoaned the board’s inaction, other nonprofit trustees, directors and managers easily can find themselves in similar situations, if they fail to impartially investigate negative news or even rumors.  In fact, those who serve on small and midsized nonprofit organization’s boards may even be in more perilous situations than larger nonprofits for four reasons.  Small & midsized companies may be affected for some of the same reasons. (more…)

How successful Nonprofit Chief Executives Should Operate

How successful Nonprofit Chief Executives Should Operate

By: Eugene Fram

Successful nonprofit chief executives, like those in the commercial positions, should  share similar perspectives and beliefs.  Author Jeff Haden  writing in the June 25th issue of INC Magazine. about for-profit executives suggests, “9 Beliefs of Remarkably Successful People.”  Following is his list and how I see how his ideas may apply to  chief executives of nonprofit organizations

(more…)