Chapter 3
NP governing boards:
Terminology:
Governing boards: those who have a legal responsibility for governing their organizations.
Most of the nps are chartered as corporations and members of the governing board are
directors of the corporation under the law. They called board members as board of
directors. Other organizations may use the term board of governors, governing council, or
smth else.
Head of the board is called president of the organization and paid staff person who manages
the organization is called director or executive director. Some nps (universities, hospitals, and
art& cultural institutions- use other terminology- head of the board “chair”, and paid
executive “president”.
CEO= president=(executive) director
Types of governing boards:
Elected boards: they are elected by
the members of the organization
which is common in member-
serving and social welfare
organizations.
Advantage: they are responsive to
the needs of members.
Disad: turnover makes it difficult
to sustain its focus on long-range
goals and plans. Uneven skills-
because popularity plays an
important role rather than skills.
Self-perpetuating Boards: New
members of board are selected by
the existing members of the board,
who identify and enlist individuals
according to criteria established by
themselves.
Advantage: relatively stable environment for organization and CEO. +stability of culture
and the goals. 2. Bringing needed and skilled people to the position.
Disad: the same type of people,
Appointed and Hybrid Boards: Members are selected through appointment by some
authority outside the organization (religious nps, universities, etc.). Boards also may have
some seats that are held ex-officio- that is designated to be held by individual who holds
a certain office or position.
Hybrids: some members are elected, some appointed, some self-perpetuating, and some
serving ex-officio.
Advantage: may represent the best of both worlds (responsive, stable, accountable to
parent organization or government)
Disadvantage: ex-officio members may not always feel a real commitment to the
organization and its mission (forced appointment).
NP governing boards:
Terminology:
Governing boards: those who have a legal responsibility for governing their organizations.
Most of the nps are chartered as corporations and members of the governing board are
directors of the corporation under the law. They called board members as board of
directors. Other organizations may use the term board of governors, governing council, or
smth else.
Head of the board is called president of the organization and paid staff person who manages
the organization is called director or executive director. Some nps (universities, hospitals, and
art& cultural institutions- use other terminology- head of the board “chair”, and paid
executive “president”.
CEO= president=(executive) director
Types of governing boards:
Elected boards: they are elected by
the members of the organization
which is common in member-
serving and social welfare
organizations.
Advantage: they are responsive to
the needs of members.
Disad: turnover makes it difficult
to sustain its focus on long-range
goals and plans. Uneven skills-
because popularity plays an
important role rather than skills.
Self-perpetuating Boards: New
members of board are selected by
the existing members of the board,
who identify and enlist individuals
according to criteria established by
themselves.
Advantage: relatively stable environment for organization and CEO. +stability of culture
and the goals. 2. Bringing needed and skilled people to the position.
Disad: the same type of people,
Appointed and Hybrid Boards: Members are selected through appointment by some
authority outside the organization (religious nps, universities, etc.). Boards also may have
some seats that are held ex-officio- that is designated to be held by individual who holds
a certain office or position.
Hybrids: some members are elected, some appointed, some self-perpetuating, and some
serving ex-officio.
Advantage: may represent the best of both worlds (responsive, stable, accountable to
parent organization or government)
Disadvantage: ex-officio members may not always feel a real commitment to the
organization and its mission (forced appointment).
