Overview: Board Operations and Systems

Vast majority of content in this topic applies to for-profits and nonprofits. This book also covers this topic.

Developing, Operating and Restoring Your Nonprofit Board - Book Cover

Sections of This Topic Include

Recurring, Annual Operations
Overall “System” of Board
Operations

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Recurring, Annual Operations

Boards meet their responsibilities usually by conducting certain major activities at certain times of the year. Often, the bylaws specify when certain activities will be conducted. Activities include, for example, conducting regular Board meetings (every month, two months, etc.), conducting the Board self-evaluation, evaluating the chief executive, reviewing and updating Board and personnel policies, conducting strategic planning, recruiting new members, holding an annual meeting, reviewing and authorizing the yearly budget, conducting fundraising (in the case of nonprofits), etc. The following sample Board Operations Calendar lists typical recurring activities of the Board and suggests the timing for these activities.
Sample Board Operations Calendar

Overall “System” of Board Operations

Below, in the links about systems, are handy one-page depictions of the various inputs to the operations of a Board, the Board processes that influence those inputs, and the various outputs from Board operations. This information gives a concise “snapshot” of the recurring activities — the loop of activities — in a Board. The links about where Boards “fit” are to one-page depictions that indicate the role of the Board in the overall planning, development, operations and evaluations in the organization.

For-Profit Boards

Nonprofit Boards

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