The function of your board of directors depends on the size and goals of the organization. The larger your organization and the greater your support staff, the less “hands-on” the board will be. On the other hand, directors or trustees of smaller organizations may, by necessity, find themselves more involved in day-to-day operations. Basic board responsibilities include:
- Determining the organization’s mission and purpose
- Selecting the chief executive
- Supporting the chief executive and assessing his or her performance
- Ensuring effective organizational planning
- Ensuring adequate resources
- Managing resources effectively
- Determining and monitoring the organization’s programs and services
- Enhancing the organization’s public image
- Ensuring legal and ethical integrity and maintaining accountability
- Recruiting new board members and assessing the board’s own performance
Source
Here are three major areas of concern when starting a non-profit:
Staff
Someone has to do the work. Do you need a staff? Can you pay a staff? Can you retain volunteers? You need workers for two general responsibilities: administrative and service. Administrative workers run the organization, raise funds, manage budgets, and handle business operations. Service workers are responsible for the mission of the organization, for accomplishing the purpose for which the nonprofit was formed. In small nonprofits, one staff member may do it all. This is where volunteers become critical to the success of the nonprofit.
Budget
Do you have a budget? Where will funding come from? Nonprofits can earn income through program and service fees, but raising funds is usually an essential activity. Fundraising is simply the result of matching a compelling cause or need with a philanthropically minded individual, organization, or company. Philanthropy is a massive industry in the United States. The key to successful fundraising is, quite simply, asking. It may seem strange, but most people fear talking about or asking for money. Do not wait for donors to come to you. Ask and ye shall receive.
Partnering
If you don’t receive enough funding to provide for all of your operational and service needs, consider partnering with a similar organization. A trend in the nonprofit industry is sharing resources that many nonprofits need: office space, administrative tasks, fundraising and other tasks that do not require a full-time employee. You may be able to partner with an organization that could use the services you provide within the scope of their larger mission. Research your local nonprofit community to determine if a similar organization exists and if your services would complement their mission.
Source
