Board of Directors and Trustee Resources

Alliance Resource Center - The Alliance is dedicated to building and transferring knowledge related to nonprofit management and governance. In our collaborative approach to disseminate nonprofit management information, we have made available the new Alliance Resource Center (ARC), still under development. You will find here hundreds of resources representing the work of hundreds of organizations, all working to help nonprofit agencies and nonprofit management support professionals manage their businesses more efficiently and effectively. In addition to the resources found here, there is a Provider Search for management support resources. ARC represents a comprehensive compilation of websites, books, videos and other valuable resources relating to nonprofit management. Best Bet
http://www.allianceonline.org/arc.html

Best Practices for Executive Directors and Boards of Nonprofit Organizations - Developed as part of a training program called MATRIX funded by the Stuart Foundation and administered through WhatCom Community Foundation, Bellingham Washington. Part of the Whatcom Council of Nonprofits Web Site (http://www.wcnwebsite.org/index.shtml].
http://www.wcnwebsite.org/docs/practice.pdf

Best Practices of Nonprofits - Derived from a training program called MATRIX that was conducted in 1999 and 2000 for 15 youth-serving agencies in Whatcom County. The Whatcom Council of Nonprofits has adopted the MATRIX best practices as the foundation of technical assistance program planning. These best practices identify nine areas in which an organization's competence is critical for success. Below, each competence is linked to suggestions for getting your organization to the "best practice" level. The site includes a pdf copy you can print, and a Word copy you can edit.
http://www.wcnwebsite.org/practices/index.htm

Beyond Collaboration: Strategic Restructuring of Nonprofit Organizations – Excellent report prepared for the National Center for Nonprofit Boards and available for free download (PDF Format/Need Adobe Acrobat).

http://www.lapiana.org/research/beyond.html

Board Builders - Free articles on board issues, from a commercial company. You do need to add your e-mail address.
http://www.boardbuilders.com/pages/bbarticles.html

Board Café - The electronic newsletter exclusively for members of nonprofit Boards of Directors. A quick read, the Board Cafe offers a menu of ideas, information, opinion, news, and resources to help board members give and get the most out of board service. Co-published by the National Center for Nonprofit Boards and CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, and delivered to your email address the second week of each month. Best Bet.
http://www.genie.org/pubs_newsletters.htm
[ APRIL 2000 FEATURED SITE... more in Featured Sites Index. ]

Board Member - This is the site for the magazine, Board Member, which is written and edited by members of public corporations. However many of the resources are also very applicable to nonprofit board members as well. Some current issue articles are included as are an archive of past issues. The Board Member Resource Center is exceptional. There are at least 18 topical areas, including: Board Governance, Management, Legal, Board Tools, Audit Committeee, Risk Management and more. The Board Governance Series, for example, includes web casts with very relevant information such as D & O Insurance, board member recruitment, Audit Committees and more. Included also are written references relating to the topics. Best Bet.
http://www.boardmember.com/

Board Source (formerly National Center for Nonprofit Boards) - Dedicated to building stronger nonprofit boards organizations. Excellent resources, programs and services to the nonprofit community. Best Bet.
http://www.boardsource.org/

Q & A Section – Frequently asked questions, and email form to request answers to others.
http://www.boardsource.org/QnATop.asp

Board Essentials - If you currently serve on a board, or are considering serving on a board, this is a comprehensive list of the essential information you will need to know. This list contains detailed answers to some of our frequently asked questions.
http://www.boardsource.org/QnA.asp?Class=BoardEssential

Nonprofit Essentials - If you are a board member who is new to the nonprofit sector, or creating a new nonprofit, these are the essential items you will need to know to begin the process. The following are detailed answers to frequently asked questions specific to nonprofits.
http://www.boardsource.org/QnA.asp?Class=NonprofitEssential

Links - List of sites that cover related topics, similar topics, or topics of interest to the nonprofit sector.
http://www.boardsource.org/Links.asp

Center for Community Leadership - The intent of the Centre is to provide a place where anyone involved with the voluntary sector can find resources and opportunities to connect with others who share similar questions, needs, issues and solutions. Mission is to contribute to stronger, healthier and more vibrant communities by serving as a one-stop resource centre for the voluntary sector. Includes links to topical resources and submissions by others. Best Bet.
http://www.communityleadership.net/

Center for Excellence in Nonprofits – Programs in leadership development, systemic change, continuous improvement and best practices. A learning community of community-based nonprofits in California's Silicon Valley to share 'lessons learned'.
http://www.cen.org

CharityChannel - CharityChannel was established in 1992 as a volunteer-driven on-line community of voluntary-sector professionals. Today the on-line community consists of more than 100,000 participants, with nearly 35,000 direct subscriptions to our forums and eNewsletters. Since operations are sustained by forum and eNewsletter sponsorship, as well as fees generated by our Resource Guide system, there is no cost to subscribe to any or all of our forums and eNewsletters. E-Newsletters include the following topic areas: E-Philanthropy Review, Grants and Foundations Review, Major Gifts Review, Nonprofit Boards and Governance Review, Nonprofit Consulting Review, Volunteer Management Review, and others. This is still a commercial site, however, with advertising throughout all its pages and newsletters.
http://charitychannel.com/

Nonprofit Board and Governance Review
http://charitychannel.com/nbgr.shtml

Community Tool Box - The Community Tool Box goal is to support work promoting community health and development. The Tool Box provides over 6,000 pages of practical skill-building information on over 250 different topics. Topic sections include step-by-step instruction, examples, check-lists, and related resources. Feature areas include: Learn A Skill; Plan The Work; Solve A Problem; Connect With Others.Best Bet.
http://ctb.ku.edu/

CompassPoint - CompassPoint Nonprofit Services (formerly Support Center) is a nonprofit consulting and training organization providing nonprofits with management tools and concepts to serve their communities. A California-based, walk-in organization for library and other services. Also source of The Genie, which is a quick and easy-to-use online information and resources on fundraising, boards, grantmakers and more, updated weekly. They also offer Medianet, is a web-based tutorial for media and public relations on the Internet.
http://www.compasspoint.org

Financial Statements for Not-For-Profit Organizations

How to Read An IRS Form 990 - http://www.charitablegift.org/resource/05_t3_form990.shtml
Analysis for FASB 117 - http://www.1800net.com/nprc/fasb117.html
How To Read A Nonprofit Financial Statement - http://www.nonprofits.org/lib/how.html
Guide to Financials - http://www.ibm.com/investor/financialguide/
How to Gauge Good Financial Management
http://www.sloccf.org/How_to_Gauge_Good_Financial_Management.pdf

For Public Library Trustees - A compilation of information resources for library trustees. Bibliographies, trustee manuals, policy information and other good materials prepared by a program at Syracuse University.
http://web.syr.edu/~jryan/infopro/trustee.html#Man

Free Management Library - Links, materials and templates for nonprofit managers providing comprehensive and practical management assistance. A great web site! This library is a free community resource to be shared and contributed to by users and readers across the world. The overall goal of the library is to provide leaders and managers (especially those with very limited resources) basic and practical information about personal, professional and organizational development. Best Bet.
http://www.mapnp.org/library

[ DECEMBER 1999 FEATURED SITE... more in Featured Sites Index. ]

Free Complete Toolkit for Boards
http://www.mapnp.org/library/boards/boards.htm

Ginsler & Associates Free Publications - This Canadian consultant has compiled a number of very useful manuals, including: The Effective Board Members Orientation Manual and a Nonprofit Self-Evaluation Checklist (among others). Best Bet
http://www.ginsler.com/html/free.htp

Grant Thornton Publications - Booklets with advice and information for board members and trustees of not-for-profit organizations. They are tailored to specific sectors within the not-for-profit industry: general, higher education, membership organizations, and social service organizations. Each covers such topics as the board's role, board member liability, budgeting, fund raising, internal controls, and board criteria and selection. Founded in 1924, Grant Thornton serves tens of thousands of middle-market clients — both public and private — through offices in the United States and in 110 countries worldwide. The Not-For-Profit sector is among their specialities. The publications listed are examples,and there are several others.
http://www.grantthornton.com/content/14566.asp

NFPerspectives - Past Issues of quarterly newsletter covering accounting, management and business operations topics for not-for-profit industry professionals.
http://www.grantthornton.com/content/12986.asp

Serving on the Board of a Not-For-Profit Organization
http://www.grantthornton.com/downloads/14655_14655.pdf

Planned Giving - A Board Members Perspective - Cowritten by Board Source.
http://www.grantthornton.com/downloads/planned_giving_14576.pdf

Not For Profit Investment Policy Guide
http://www.grantthornton.com/downloads/14568_14568.pdf

Serving on an Audit Committe of a Not For Profit
http://www.grantthornton.com/downloads/15815_15815.pdfM

How to Read a 990 - From the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York. There is information in the Form 990 that you may find interesting and helpful for learning about the nonprofit organization that filed the Form 990. But you need to know where to find this information and how to interpret it. To help you do this, we offer a list of the ten most significant pieces of information that can be found in the Form 990 and show you exactly where you can find the information.
http://www.npccny.org/Form_990/990.htm

I Know - Interactive Knowledge for Nonprofit Organizations Worldwide. Compiled and maintained by Raffa & Associates, attorney's in Washington DC whose clientele is primarily nonprofit organizations. Major section areas with an extensive link collection include: Weathering Uncertainty, Financial Management, and Information Portals. Other topic areas include: Starting a Nonprofit, Board Governance, Fund Raising, Legal Issues, Technology, Tax Issues, Voluntarism and more. Best Bet.
http://www.iknow.org

The Learning Institute for Nonprofit Organizations - A comprehensive educational program for nonprofit managers, boards and volunteers delivered through satelitte conferences, online learning or videotapes. Included on this website are the extensive library of free materials including articles, classroom items, tools and links that make this an ideal learning center on nonprofit management. In total, this is an excellent overview of the nonprofit management profession, with extensive learning material resources. It is hosted by The University of Wisconson Extension in collaboration with the Society for Nonprofit Organizations and United Way of America. Nine basic subject areas are covered in depth. These include: Strategic Planning, Resource Development, Board Governance, Marketing, Financial Management, Social Entrepreneurship, Volunteer Management, Strategic Alliances, and Outcome Measurement. Among the best site of its kind anywhere! Best Bet.
http://www.uwex.edu/li/learner/library.htm

Nonprofit Organizational Assessment Tool – These instruments can help guide discussion and planning by a nonprofit organization. Applicable for all stakeholders within an agency or service. The site is an Best Bet… and so is their Certificate Program – Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management.
http://www.uwex.edu/li/learner/assessment.htm

Management Center Nonprofit Assessment Tool – A free, 8-part, 80-item online questionnaire by which organizations measure their capacity and performance. Provides an objective way to answer the questions on efficiency, effectiveness and success. Best Bet.
http://www.tmcenter.org/assessment/toolintro.html

Nonprofit Good Practice Guide - Key information designed to help manage your nonprofit organization efficiently and effectively. Follow links to the nine topic areas listed at the right to find articles, standards of practice, resources and glossaries. The Nonprofit Good Practice Guide provides Preferred Practices and Pitfalls, Glossaries, Resources, and Web Site Profiles and Links within nine topic areas. The Guide offers answers to virtually any question about managing nonprofits by providing hands-on tips, articles and profiled links to lead nonprofit managers to sources that contain an abundance of information, which can be applied quickly and directly to their organizations. The Nonprofit Good Practice Guide, is a project of the Philanthropic and Nonprofit Knowledge Management Initiative (PNKM) at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership.Best Bet.
http://www.nonprofitbasics.org/

Fundraising and Financial Stability
http://www.nonprofitbasics.org/TopicArea.aspx?ID=4

Staff Development and Organization Capacity
http://www.nonprofitbasics.org/TopicArea.aspx?ID=6

Accountability and Evaluation
http://www.nonprofitbasics.org/TopicArea.aspx?ID=14

Volunteer Management
http://www.nonprofitbasics.org/TopicArea.aspx?ID=8

Communications and Marketing
http://www.nonprofitbasics.org/TopicArea.aspx?ID=9

Nonprofit Genie - The Genie is at your service, with information and resources for the nonprofit community. Extensive information and resources for nonprofits. Opinion articles, publications, links and FAQs on management. Home of the Board Cafe newsletter.Best Bet.
http://www.genie.org

The Nonprofit Resource Center - Directory of Internet resources of intereest and value to nonprofits; designed for managers, board members and volunteers as well as those considering establishing a nonprofit. A service of Nonprofit Incorporators, a law firm specializing in incorporations of nonprofits. Best Bet
http://www.not-for-profit.org/index.html

Organizational Effectiveness - An April 2002 special issue of the Philanthropy News Digest, a publication of the Foundation Center. To help nonprofits and funders get a handle on this dynamic field, Philanthropy News Digest has put together this special resource issue, which includes annotated links to Web-based resources and sites, examples of capacity-building grants, a list of related readings, and an excerpt of our interview with Barbara Kibbe, the head of the Organizational Effectiveness and Philanthropy Program at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. This is an excellent series (the special issues) that are worth reviewing for appropriate topics every once in a while. Best Bet.
http://fdncenter.org/pnd/specialissues/item.jhtml?id=6900039

The Peter Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management - Named for and inspired by the acknowledged father of modern management. Educational opportunities and resources to help lead social sector organizations toward excellence. Access to weekly email Nonprofit Innovation of the Week. Excerpts from excellent periodical, Leader to Leader; and an effectiveness assessment program. Best Bet.
http://www.pfdf.org/

Drucker Nonprofit Innovation of the Week - An archives of these weekly email notices including a listing of all Innovation of the Week programs.
http://pfdf.org/innovation/innov_of_week/archives.html

Philanthopy Journal - Philanthropy Journal helps people understand, support and work in the nonprofit and philanthropic world. Through a daily Web site and free, weekly email bulletin, they deliver online philanthropy and nonprofit news and information. Published by the A.J. Fletcher Foundation. When it launched The Philanthropy Journal of North Carolina in February 2000, the Foundation created a valuable communications tool for nonprofits in all fields of endeavor. Great for all of us. Best Bet.
http://www.philanthropyjournal.org/front.asp

Policy Governance Model - John Carver's Policy Governance® model is a complete, universal theory of governance—a conceptually coherent paradigm of principles and concepts (not of structure). The model enables boards—as "servant-leaders" of shareholders, public, members (or other "ownership" equivalent)—to ensure that organizations achieve board-stated goals and conduct themselves with probity. Over the last decade or two, there has been increasing interest in the composition, conduct, and decision-making of nonprofit governing boards. The board-staff relationship has been at the center of the discussion, but trustee characteristics, board role in planning and evaluation, committee involvement, fiduciary responsibility, legal liability, and other topics have received their share of attention. Nonprofit boards are not alone, for spirited debate about the nature of business boards has been growing as well. Whatever the reasons for this intense interest in governance, the Policy Governance model for board leadership, created by the senior author, is frequently a primary focus of debate. Best Bet.
http://www.carvergovernance.com/model.htm

Statement of Ethics - Presented by Independent Sector and drafted by a task force on nonprofit ethics and accountibility. Best Bet.
http://www.independentsector.org/PDFs/code_ethics.pdf

Compendium of Standards, Codes, and Principles of Nonprofit and Philanthropic Organizations
http://www.independentsector.org/issues/accountability/standards.html

Other Accountibility Resources
http://www.independentsector.org/issues/accountability.html

Strategic Solutions – Dedicated to achieving a major and lasting positive impact on the nonprofit sector's perception, understanding and use of strategic restructuring, thereby increasing the capacity of organizations to advance their missions. Included is a list of books, articles, and other publications that we have found to be useful in our research on strategic restructuring issues. Also results from a national study on strategic restructuring in the nonprofit sector, Strategic Restructuring: Findings from a Study of Integrations and Alliances Among Nonprofit Social Service and Cultural Organizations in the United States; and a copy of Real Collaboration, a tool for Foundation program officers to help make better use of collaboration among grantees. Best Bet.
http://www.lapiana.org

In Search of Strategic Solutions - After five years of research, training, and consulting in the area of strategic restructuring, Strategic Solutions and Chapin Hall Center for Children, a policy research center at the University of Chicago, offer In Search of Strategic Solutions: A Funders Briefing on Nonprofit Strategic Restructuring, written by David La Piana and Amelia Kohm, and published by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) in January 2003. This report revisits the questions first posed in Beyond Collaboration, and addresses them by drawing on findings from our recent national study on strategic restructuring, as well as learnings from other Strategic Solutions research and consulting activities.
http://www.lapiana.org/research/fundersbriefing.html

National Study on Strategic Restructuring Among Nonprofits - This study, authored by Amelia Kohm, David La Piana, and Heather Gowdy, is the product of a collaboration between Strategic Solutions and the Chapin Hall Center for Children, a policy research institution at the University of Chicago. The report, which includes findings from Phase I of a two-part study, was made possible through the support of the Nonprofit Sector Research Fund of the Aspen Institute and the Lilly Endowment Inc. It includes:Descriptions of the primary types of strategic restructuring partnerships: administrative consolidations, joint programs, management service organizations, joint ventures, parent-subsidiary structures, and mergers; Profiles of nonprofits involved in each type of partnership; and Survey findings on the motivations, goals, benefits, and challenges involved in strategic restructuring.
http://www.lapiana.org/research/nationalstudy.html

Real Collaboration - Real Collaboration is a guide for grantmakers — written by David La Piana in January 2001 at the request of the Ford Foundation — that makes recommendations on how program officers can make better, more effective use of collaboration among grantees. The 30- page report is available for free download here with Ford's permission.
http://www.lapiana.org/research/real.html

Beyond Collaboration: Srategic Restructuring of Nonprofit Organizations - The James Irvine Foundation — sensing an increased interest among nonprofit sector leaders in partnership opportunities — commissioned a study by David La Piana of the future role of strategic restructuring. That study led to Beyond Collaboration: Strategic Restructuring for Nonprofit Organizations, published by the National Center for Nonprofit Boards in 1997. The study offers an analysis of restructuring efforts among nonprofits and describes several strategies that funders might develop to support activity in this arena. A follow-up Revised Second Edition was released in March 2000, with an expanded reference section demonstrating the considerable advancements made in the field of strategic restructuring over that three-year period.
http://www.lapiana.org/research/beyond.html

Strategic Solutions Resources – Websites of interest to nonprofits. Specific categories on publications and government, as well as general information sites with multiple links.
http://www.lapiana.org/resources/index.html