Individual Board Member Responsibilities*

General expectations

* Know the organization’s mission, purpose, goals, policies, programs, services, strengths and needs. * Perform duties of board membership responsibly and conform to the level of competence expected from
board members as outlined in the duties of care, loyalty, and obedience as they apply to non-profit board members.
* Suggest possible nominees to the board who are clearly women and men of achievement and distinction and who can make significant contributions to the work of the board and the organization’s progress.
* Serve in leadership positions and undertake special assignments willingly and enthusiastically.
* Avoid prejudiced judgments on the basis of information received from individuals and urge those with grievances to follow established policies and procedures through their supervisors. (All matters of potential significance should be called to the attention of the exec and the board’s elected leader as appropriate.)
* Follow trends in the organization’s field of interest.
* Bring good will and a sense of humor to the board’s deliberations.

Meetings

* Prepare for and participate in board and committee meetings, including appropriate organizational activities
* Ask timely and substantive questions at board and committee meetings consistent with your conscience and convictions, while supporting the majority decisions on issues decided by the board.
* Maintain confidentiality of the board’s exec sessions, and speak for the board or organization only when authorized to do so.
* Suggest agenda items periodically for board and committee meetings to ensure that significant, policy-related matters are addressed.

Relationship with Staff

* Counsel the chief exec as appropriate and support him or her through often difficult relationships with groups or individuals.
* Avoid asking for special favors of the staff, including special requests for extensive information, without at least prior consultation with the chief exec, board, or appropriate committee chairperson.

Avoiding Conflicts

* Serve the organization as a whole rather than any special interest group or constituency. Regardless of whether or not you were invited to fill a vacancy reserved for a certain constituency or organization, your first obligation is to avoid any preconception that you “represent” anything but the organization’s best interests.
* Avoid even an appearance of a conflict of interest that might embarrass the board or organization, and disclose any possible conflicts to the board in a timely fashion.
* Maintain independence and objectivity and do what a sense of fairness, ethics, and personal integrity dictate, even though not necessarily obliged to do so by law, regulation or custom.
* Never accept (or offer) favors or gifts form (or to) anyone who does business with the organization.

Fiduciary Responsibilities

* Exercise prudence with the board in the control and transfer of funds.
* Faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements and otherwise help the board fulfill its fiduciary responsibility.

Fundraising

* Give an annual gift according to personal means.
* Assist the development committees and staff by implementing fundraising strategies through personal influence with others (corporations, individuals and foundations).

* Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards / 2003 BOARDSOURCE – Building Effective Nonprofit Boards www.boardsource.org

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