Table of Contents
Board Compensation:
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
Board Compensation: Reasonable and Necessary?
National Center for Family Philanthropy
This issue paper provides guidance on the legal regulations and board policies and considerations regarding board compensation.
http://www.ncfp.org/publications-main.html
Determining Reasonable Compensation for Foundation Directors and Trustees (PDF)
Council on Foundations
Recommendations on good practices for setting compensation for foundation board members.
http://www.cof.org/files/Documents/Governing_Boards/execcomp2003.pdf
At Issue: Voluntary or Compensatory Boards — Which Is the Better Policy? (PDF)
Council on Foundations
The briefing provides the legal basics of compensating board members for board service, a sampling of the most common practices, and a breakdown of the pros of compensated vs. voluntary board service.
http://www.cof.org/files/Documents/Governing_Boards/Board%20Briefs/BBBoardComp8.20031.pdf
Foundation Expenses and Compensation: How Operating Characteristics Influence Spending (PDF)
Urban Institute, The Foundation Center, GuideStar
This report documents the dimensions of foundation expenses and compensation and reveals that major differences in foundations’ operating styles have a great impact on their expense levels.
http://fdncenter.org/research/trends_analysis/pdf/fdn_exp_comp.pdf
Trustee Compensation for Small Foundations
Association of Small Foundations
This primer offers a framework to help a board carry out a thoughtful discussion about trustee compensation and craft a policy that fits a foundation's unique outlook and circumstances. Available for purchase.
http://www.smallfoundations.org/programs/primer_series
Megan Wentworth
Foundation Management Series: Foundation Governing Boards and Administrative Expenses in Private Foundations
Council on Foundations
"The management series contains data on administrative expenses of private foundations (family and independent), and structures and policies of governing boards and staffing patterns of community, private and public foundations."
http://www.cof.org/Learn/content.cfm?itemnumber=567&navItemNumber=1983
What Every Grantmaker Should Know: Board and Staff Compensation
Minnesota Council on Foundations
Part of the MCF Notes series, the December/January 2004 issue focused on Compensation.
http://www.mcf.org/publictrust/wegsk_boardcompensation.htm
Foundation Governance: The CEO Viewpoint (PDF)
The Center for Effective Philanthropy
This is the report published after the collection of survey data from the CEOs of America's 250 largest foundations.
http://www.effectivephilanthropy.org/images/pdfs/governanceceoview.pdf
Foundation Expenses and Compensation-Interim Report 2005 (PDF)
The Urban Institute
http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411195_expenses_compensation.pdf
2004-2005 Foundation Operations and Management Survey
Association of Small Foundations
A survey collected about operation and management of small foundations. A 2008-2009 report will be released later this year.
http://www.smallfoundations.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI7MPJqF&b=2293137
For Additional Resources, please see the Compensation section of the Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington website: http://www.gosw.org/grant/makers/info/compensation/
Board Roles & Responsibilities:
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
The Nonprofit Board's Role in Setting and Advancing the Mission
BoardSource
This book shows how board members can actively contribute to the creation of mission as well as communicate the mission and purpose to the community. Available for purchase.
www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp
Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards
BoardSource
This guidebook explores the 10 core areas of board responsibility. Available for purchase.
www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp
The Trustee Notebook: An Orientation for Family Foundation Board Members
National Center for Family Philanthropy
This publication includes an overview of foundation board basics. Available for purchase.
www.ncfp.org/publications-main.html
The Board Member's Book: Making A Difference in Voluntary Organizations
The Foundation Center
A comprehensive guide to the issues, challenges and possibilities facing a nonprofit organization and its board. Available for purchase.
www.foundationcenter.org/marketplace
Bringing Personal Accountability on Board
Council on Foundations
This article describes how to enhance the performance of nonprofit board members by increasing their personal accountability.
www.foundationnews.org/CME/article.cfm?id=2459
BoardSource Q&A
BoardSource
Answers to the common questions on board governance and management.
www.boardsource.org/QnATop.asp
Beyond Compliance: The Trustee Viewpoint on Effective Foundation Governance (PDF)
Center for Effective Philanthropy
This report reveals the foundation trustee perspective on effective governance and provides practical implications for CEOs and trustees.
www.effectivephilanthropy.org/images/pdfs/CEP_Beyond_Compliance.pdf
Foundation Governance: The CEO Viewpoint (PDF)
Center for Effective Philanthropy
This report explores key attributes of foundation boards seen to be most effective by foundation CEOs.
www.effectivephilanthropy.org/images/pdfs/governanceceoview.pdf
Effective Governance for Unstaffed Foundations
Association of Small Foundations
This primer describes the full range of governance responsibilities, and how unstaffed foundations can carry them out effectively and efficiently. Available for purchase.
www.smallfoundations.org/programs/primer_series
Policymaking Made Clear: Eleven Foundation Policies Your Board Should Consider
Association of Small Foundations
This primer walks a foundation through 11 policies that can help it operate more efficiently, align daily operations with its mission, fulfill its legal and ethical responsibilities, increase transparency, and orient new board members. Available for purchase.
www.smallfoundations.org/programs/primer_series
Sample Board Member Roles and Responsibilities
Donors Forum of Chicago
www.donorsforum.org/publictrust/BoardRoles_sample.doc
Sample Board of Director Responsibilities
Council on Foundations
www.cof.org/Content/General/Display.cfm?CONTENTID=1125
Sample Foundation Chair & Office Job Descriptions
Council on Foundations
www.cof.org/Content/General/Display.cfm?CONTENTID=762
Sample Board Member/Trustee Job Descriptions
Council on Foundations
www.cof.org/Content/General/Display.cfm?CONTENTID=760
Sample Board Member Job Description (PDF)
Council on Foundations
www.cof.org/files/Documents/Documents_Bank/Governance/BOD_Roles_Responsibilities/BODjobdescription2.pdf
Sample Board Member Job Description (PDF)
Council on Foundations
www.cof.org/files/Documents/Documents_Bank/Governance/BOD_Roles_Responsibilities/BODjobdescription1.pdf
Megan Wentworth
Board Structure and Committees:
Seasons of Change: Organizational Life Cycles (PDF)
Western States Center
David Rogers
From their Fall 2002 edition of "Views", the seasonal newsletter, comes an article abotu the life cycle of nonprofits.
Seasons of Change: Organizational Life Cycles
Working on Nonprofit Boards: Don't Assume the Shoe Fits (PDF)
Harvard Business Review
F. Warren McFarlan
November/December 1999
"Most people will serve on the board of a nonprofit organization at some oint. But the governance of nonprofits can differ dramatically from the governance of businesses. Even the best intentions can prove disastrous when new board members fail to understand that their traditional business experience can carry them only so far."
Working on Nonprofit Boards: Don't Assume the Shoe Fits
Board Briefing: CEOs on the Board
Foundation News & Commentary
Ellen Bryson and Elaine Gast
January/February 2005
"This board briefing will help your board consider three main questions: What are the advantages and limitations of CEOs on boards? If the CEO is on the board, should he or she have full voting rights? How do your colleagues approach this decision?"
http://foundationnews.org/CME/article.cfm?ID=3167
Board Member
This periodical, formerly published by the National Center for Nonprofit Boards is a great resource for learning more about board structure and organization. Now part of BoardSource, you must become a member to have access to the publication. To join, click the following link:
http://www.boardsource.org/Membership.asp?ID=57
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
Structures and Practices of Nonprofit Boards
BoardSource
This book provides practical guidelines for boards on structural issues such as running meetings and committee structure. Available for purchase.
www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp
Transforming Board Structure: Strategies for Committees and Task Forces
BoardSource
The book provide an introduction to how boards can use committees and task forces to streamline the work of the full board. Available for purchase.
www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp
The BoardSource Committee Series
BoardSource
In this series of six publications, a panel of experts look at board committee structure, functional responsibilities, board relationships and more. Available for purchase.
www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp
Executive Committee
BoardSource
This guidebook describes the challenges and benefits of having an board executive committee. Available for purchase.
www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp
Governance Committee
BoardSource
This guidebook provides an in-depth look at the governance committee’s responsibilities in overseeing the performance of the board and managing compliance to the organization's mission. Available for purchase.
www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp
Governance Committees: New Trend on Nonprofit Boards
BoardSource
This article summarizes a governance committee’s key roles and responsibilities.
www.boardsource.org/AuthoredArticle.asp?ID=2
Advisory Councils
BoardSource
This guidebook explains what advisory councils are and how they can benefit a board. Available for purchase.
www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp
Working With Committees
Association of Small Foundations
This book excerpt looks at the important elements for creating and utilizing effective committees, and the important qualities of effective committee members (reprinted from “The Board Member’s Book: Making a Difference in Voluntary Organizations,” The Foundation Center).
www.foundationinabox.org/guide/boards/establishing_and_utilizing/file
The Nonprofit Board's Guide to Bylaws
BoardSource
This book provides practical guidance on how to develop, review and adjust bylaws, and includes sample bylaws provisions. Available for purchase.
www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp
Megan Wentworth
Board Composition & Size:
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
Structures and Practices of Nonprofit Boards
BoardSource
This book provides practical guidelines for boards on board membership issues such as board size and term limits. Available for purchase.
www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp
An Introduction to Board Composition Size, and Structure
Council on Foundations
Some basic guidance for structuring a family foundation’s board.
www.cof.org/Content/General/Display.cfm?contentid=765
A Colleague’s Perspective on Board Composition
Council on Foundations
This article offers guidance for family foundations in deciding how to compose a board.
www.cof.org/Content/General/Display.cfm?contentid=740
Sample Board of Directors Rotation Policy
Council on Foundations
www.cof.org/Content/General/Display.cfm?contentID=766
Sample Board Member Exit Interview
Donors Forum of Chicago
www.donorsforum.org/publictrust/BoardMemberExitInterview_sample.doc
Megan Wentworth
Foundation Trusteeship: Service in the Public Interest
The Foundation Center
Written by John W. Nason, this book especially chapter 7, focuses on "The Dynamics of an Effective Board." The book is available through the Foundation Center.
