Praise for Joining a Nonprofit Board ""As an individual who has served on various nonprofit boards, and as the president and CEO of a large nonprofit organization, I can attest to how valuable this book is. Marc Epstein and Warren McFarlan offer insight into the expectations of nonprofit board members, which is extraordinarily beneficial to individuals considering their first nonprofit board and to seasoned professionals already serving on boards." —Gail McGovern, President and CEO, American Red Cross Excerpted from Foreword" "This book is a roadmap for the business person who wants to serve on a nonprofit board, and unwittingly assumes that the approaches that worked so well in the for-profit world can be seamlessly extrapolated to the nonprofit board room." —Roseanna H. Means, M.D., founder and president, Women of Means "A must-read for all new and existing nonprofit board members. It is full of practical advice that will help improve the effectiveness of nonprofit board members and the organizations they serve." —Roger Servison, president emeritus, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and vice chairman, Boston Symphony Orchestra "What a powerful tool now available for anyone involved with governance of America's nonprofit enterprises. The analysis is cogent and concise, amply supported by real-life examples." —George B. Beitzel, chairman emeritus, Amherst College, and chairman emeritus, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation "Joining a Nonprofit Board offers practical advice in complementing your business experience with the nuances of nonprofit governance, performance, and management in order to fully achieve the societal mission." —Jeffrey C. Thomson, president and CEO, Institute of Management Accountants "This book will guide you through the differences between for-profit and nonprofit organizations (and boards). It will help you navigate through all the nuances in which nonprofit organizations actually operate on a day-to-day basis."—Elaine Ullian, former president, Boston Medical Center "Joining a Nonprofit Board is a must-read. This book should be required reading and distributed at the opening board meeting." —Agnes C. Underwood, former head, Garrison Forest School and National Cathedral School; vice president/managing associate, Carney, Sandoe and Associates "A Board needs a unifying and visionary objective—'It must be World Class.' This book successfully shows how to create a World Class Board." —W. Richard Bingham, former chairman, California Academy of Sciences

“Think for a moment of the best conversations you’ve had with friends and colleagues. You were honest with one another—not shy about speaking up but relaxed, even if the topic being discussed was serious in nature. That’s the type of conversation The Nonprofit Board Answer Book aims to have with you in the pages that follow. It follows a question-and-answer format, enabling you to quickly find an answer to a burning question you have right now. At the same time, it’s easy to pick up and read straight through, either cover to cover or one section at a time. At the end of each question-and-answer pairing you’ll find suggested action steps. These offer ways to put the information to a practical use on your own board and within your own nonprofit organization. Implementing some of these steps may lead to more questions as you become even more committed to fulfilling your responsibilities as a board member. Remember: behind every good answer lies a good question. So keep asking those questions.”--from the Introduction

Nonprofit leadership is messy Nonprofits leaders are optimistic by nature. They believe with time, energy, smarts, strategy and sheer will, they can change the world. But as staff or board leader, you know nonprofits present unique challenges. Too many cooks, not enough money, an abundance of passion. It’s enough to make you feel overwhelmed and alone. The people you help need you to be successful. But there are so many obstacles: a micromanaging board that doesn’t understand its true role; insufficient fundraising and donors who make unreasonable demands; unclear and inconsistent messaging and marketing; a leader who’s a star in her sector but a difficult boss… And yet, many nonprofits do thrive. Joan Garry’s Guide to Nonprofit Leadership will show you how to do just that. Funny, honest, intensely actionable, and based on her decades of experience, this is the book Joan Garry wishes she had when she led GLAAD out of a financial crisis in 1997. Joan will teach you how to: Build a powerhouse board Create an impressive and sustainable fundraising program Become seen as a ‘workplace of choice’ Be a compelling public face of your nonprofit This book will renew your passion for your mission and organization, and help you make a bigger difference in the world.

Are you new to a board and have no idea what’s expected of you? Do you know what a board’s six key responsibilities are? Do you know what your relationship with the Executive Director should be? If not, this book is for you. So many board members—especially of small nonprofits—want to support a nonprofit and readily accept the invitation to join the board. It’s only then that they discover they are in over their heads, with no idea of their expectations and responsibilities. The Little Book of Boards is here to throw that drowning board member a rope. Told with a conversational style, this book will lead you through the basics of being on a board, how meetings work, and what’s expected between meetings. In addition, at the back of the book are several in-depth resources for understanding Roberts Rules of Order, bylaws, committee structures, board leadership, and much more. Perfect for any new board member—or for an entire board that is feeling lost—this book and its common sense approach will serve you every year you are on the board.

Designed to help nonprofit board members and senior staff, "The six books address all of the fundamental elements of service common to most boards, including board member responsibilities, how to structure the board in the most efficient manner, and how to accomplish governance work in the spirit of the mission of the organization."--Pg. 2 of Book 1

Nonprofit Board Service for the GENIUS is a first-of-its kind reference for the millions of people who are seeking to serve on a nonprofit board or already serve on one. It is a fun, informative read that candidly highlights a board member's ups and downs. Perfect for the novice, the veteran who needs a refresher, or the executive director looking to take the group to a higher level; it has been acclaimed by experts as the resource that the sector been waiting for. The book takes the reader through the process of searching for a board, the first year of membership, into the leadership realm, and beyond. It is ideal for these purposes: Decision-making tool for finding the right board Board orientation takeaway Board meeting reference Board development resource Executive director training Nonprofit training text The book and its appendices contain a number of templates and sample documents that will help any nonprofit strengthen its value. Nonprofit Board Service for the GENIUS moves sequentially through the stages of nomination, early candidacy, and more advanced topics: Part 1: Board Service with Your Eyes Wide Open Chapter 1: Why Would Anyone Want to Serve on a Nonprofit Board? Chapter 2: Board Basics Chapter 3: Just the Facts Chapter 4: Finding the Right Match Chapter 5: Getting From Here to There: From Candidate to Board Member Part 2: Hit the Ground Running Chapter 6: Ready, Set, Action Wait, Who Does What? Chapter 7: Board Anatomy 101 Chapter 8: Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, 990s...Oh My Chapter 9: Creating a Roadmap: Strategic Thinking and Planning Part 3: Digging In Chapter 10: Budgets: A Financial Blueprint Chapter 11: Other Fun Financials Chapter 12: From Ambassador to Advocate Chapter 13: The "F" Word: Fundraising Chapter 14: Risk Management: Covering Your Assets Chapter 15: Measuring Organizational Success: The Board's Role Part 4: Behind the Curtain Chapter 16: Board Recruitment: The Dating Game Chapter 17: Orientation: An Essential Beginning Chapter 18: Make Meetings Magical Part 5: The Care and Feeding of Your Leaders Chapter 19: ED-Chair Partnership: The Dynamic Duo Chapter 20: Supporting and Evaluating the ED Chapter 21: Hiring and Firing the ED Chapter 22: What If Your Leaders Flee to Cancun? Chapter 23: Founders and Long-Time Leaders Part 6: Taking the Reins Chapter 24: Assessing the Board's Performance Chapter 25: Keeping Board Members Engaged and Connected Chapter 26: When Things Go Awry Chapter 27: Board Culture: Boards Are People Too Appendices include a sample board commitment form, individual board member fundraising plan, conflict of interest policy, whistleblower policy, document retention and destruction policy, and executive director evaluation. Nonprofit Board Service for the GENIUS is a must-have guide for these groups: Executive directors looking to propel the board to the next level Community members interested in exploring board service Novice board members driven to learn more Veteran board members who would like to brush up on basics or take on a leadership post With real examples of inspiration and what to avoid, the book's vignettes show that board work takes time and commitment, but enables creativity and provides immense personal and professional benefits and opportunities. Its spirited tone will follow readers to the boardroom and into communities around the country.

Designed to help nonprofit board members and senior staff, "The six books address all of the fundamental elements of service common to most boards, including board member responsibilities, how to structure the board in the most efficient manner, and how to accomplish governance work in the spirit of the mission of the organization."--Pg. 2 of Book 1