When a nonprofit is experiencing a crisis, fingers start pointing immediately - and they almost always point toward the boardroom. How many times have we heard: "Where was the board?" or "How could they let this happen?" Communities depend on nonprofit boards to provide solid governance and guidance to help organizations avoid problems. But why do we expect a group of volunteers to navigate the complex issues that can plague a nonprofit if they aren’t provided any training?
Nonprofit boards have many important responsibilities, both individually and as a group. To meet those responsibilities, a board should include members with varying skills, networks, and strengths. However, even with the right mix of skills, the best team will falter without formal training or a solid grasp of nonprofit fundamentals. Without that foundation, the consequences - from outdated policies to chronic staff turnover to financial mismanagement - directly threaten the organization’s mission.
Good board governance can only be achieved when members have the training they need to fulfill their roles. While onboarding provides a starting point, the Board Development Committee and staff leadership should always be connecting board members to ongoing educational opportunities and leaving room in the budget to support that training annually.
Some areas of board training that are often needed are:
- Nonprofit board governance and policymaking
- Parliamentary procedures
- Nonprofit finance and financial policy best practices
- Fundraising standards and ethics
- Program evaluation standards
- Succession planning
Proper training for board members does more than strengthen governance; it’s an antidote to board and staff burnout. When board members are equipped with the right information, they gain the confidence to ask the tough questions that prevent future crises. Furthermore, a well-supported board is a prepared one, and members are far more likely to step into leadership roles when they feel empowered to succeed.
Nonprofits would never expect a staff person to effectively do their job without training. It is just as important that they don’t ask board members to be held accountable for oversight and key decision making without proper training.
If you'd like to learn more about how Kennari can help empower your board, please reach out.
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