Industry News Florida Association of Nonprofits By Marina Pavlov-Marchner Governance and Board Policy Now that the event season of 2017 is over, many nonprofits are concentrating on their board and board issues. Here are some practical suggestions and overall principles about boards that you can use, that many have found helpful. These are the guidelines behind the lessons that are taught in the Sunshine Certificate of Nonprofit Management. Florida Nonprofits was the first state association of nonprofits to develop a certificate in nonprofit management program, and has been providing the guidance strengthen the skills of nonprofits for more than 20 years. We are very proud to have a 99th percentile program recommendation from CNM graduates . The Sunshine Certificate in Nonprofit Management provides motivating and stimulating classes to assist the professional development of anyone involved in the nonprofit sector - from nonprofit executives and board members to staff and volunteers. It is offered in partnership with the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Fischler School of Education and Human Services and Broward College (BC), The 11-class series is offered in two formats: - an accelerated, intensive four-day session - ongoing, (rolling) monthly classes that can be completed in five months We are very excited to offer the next accelerated, four-day session September 15 - 18, 2017 at the Ritz Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida in partnership with the Florida Association of Museums. The July monthly classes covering Governance and Human Resources/Volunteers will be July 22, while the classes August 19 will cover Executive Director Training and Fundraising and Sustainability through Big Gifts. Nurturing your board is one of the best things you can do for your organization. A good, strong board of directors is vital. A nonprofit’s board of directors is responsible for defining the organization’s mission and for providing overall leadership and strategic direction to the organization. Each nonprofit board should: - actively set policy and ensure that the organization has adequate resources to carry out its mission; - provide direct oversight and direction for the executive director and be responsible for evaluating his/her performance; and - evaluate its own effectiveness as a governing body, as a group of volunteers, and as representatives of the community in upholding the public interest served by the organization. Board Composition: 1) Nonprofit boards should be comprised of individual volunteers who are committed to representing the best interests of the organization and its mission. 2) To ensure broad public participation, vitality and diversity, board members should serve for no more than nine consecutive years. 3) To allow for sufficient deliberation and diversity of perspectives, nonprofit boards should consist of no fewer than seven individuals. 4) Nonprofit boards must have a chair and a treasurer, and should have a vice-chair and secretary. No one should occupy more than one officer position in the same organization at the same time. 5) If staff membership on the board is deemed necessary, inclusion should be limited to the executive director, who should not serve as the chair, vice-chair, secretary, or treasurer. Board Characteristics and Qualifications: 1) Nonprofits should strive towards board representation that reflects the organization’s constituents. 2) Board members should be committed to the mission and dedicated to the success of the nonprofit. 3) Board members should actively develop an understanding of the mission, ongoing activities, finances, and operating environment of the organization. 46 AmeriDisability July/August 2017
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