Before roles and rules
Starting points for new and small social impact organizations to build their boards
Boards can make or break a social impact organization. Too often, however, the actual roles and responsibilities of boards are unclear to leaders, teams— and even board members themselves. Board service is not about formal titles or endless rules. It’s about alignment, coordination, and decisionmaking that actually serves the mission of an organization.
If you’re a new or small organization looking for a basic sense of what effective governance is, and how it can work for you, check out our recent mini-series on board roles. These pieces are designed to help reframe governance as a lever for stronger, smarter, and more resilient impact.
This is not a comprehensive guide to every issue regarding boards. Instead, consider this a starting point. Our aim is to provide a simple set of considerations for determining what type of board can work best for your organization— and the skills needed of board members.
We outline how boards can complement leadership (and vice versa) without overstepping each others’ zones. We also show how deliberate selection and engagement of board members strengthens decision-making, enhances program impact, and protects an organization’s integrity.
Good boards help good organizations to thrive by providing strategy, structure, and support. How you define and engage your board can affect everything from decision-making to mission delivery. Giving time and thought to your organization’s board ensures that the capacity is in place channel the talent, energy, and passion each member can offer through their service.
