Non-Profit Board Member Agreements

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Many civic minded individuals find themselves serving on one or more boards of non-profit organizations. Unlike corporate board positions which are paid, non-profit board members typically serve on a volunteer basis. When agreeing to serve, incoming board members usually receive a written or verbal explanation of responsibilities and expectations. Although most board members are passionate about the mission of the organization and are generous with their time and energy, occasionally expectations are unclear or, for personal reasons, board members are unable to fulfill their responsibilities. In this case, coaching these members can be delicate.



In the January/February 2010 issue of Nonprofit World, Andy Robinson suggests that one potential solution to this dilemma is to introduce reciprocal board member agreements. These agreements don't just spell out what the board member is expected to do for the organization, they also outline how the organization will provide support for the board member responsibilities. For example, SNP proposes the following item:

Provided by Board Members	Provided by Organization
Oversight to ensure the organization is functioning appropriately	Monthly dossier with updates, press clippings, report from executive director, etc.
Adapted from “Reciprocal Board Agreements,” Nonprofit World, January/February 201

Interestingly, only one of the sample items provides an explicit declaration of the consequences of failing to meet expectations. The sample reciprocal board agreement suggests that if a board member misses three consecutive meetings, her behavior will be tantamount to a resignation from the board.

What do you think is the best way to manage volunteers who aren't performing at the expected level of competency?

References
Robinson, A. 2010. Reciprocal board agreements: What do board members give? What do they get in return? Nonprofit World, 28(1): 18-19.