Perfect board governance is an elusive concept. However, it is a goal that boards must strive for – and one they can attain if they know what good governance is, if they are well-constructed to a precise blueprint (what Nadler calls “board building”) and if they adhere to the right standards.
To accomplish this boards need to be cloud-based disaster recovery strategies arranged properly, well-chosen, and directed towards the future. They should be able to keep in balance the requirements of the organization with the requirements of its stakeholders and shareholders. They must be able to deal with the new regulatory pressures as they develop.
The success of a nonprofit organization depends on its board’s ability meet these challenges and ensure that it is positioned for a long-term sustainable future. A well-run board can help its trustees fulfill their roles and serve the community by ensuring the programs of the organization are healthy or are on track to achieve accreditation.
The most important aspect of a structure is establishing a proper agenda for the board and a schedule. It should be easy for directors to identify which matters need their attention and those that can be delegated. It should also specify when the board must be informed or consulted about issues that don’t require a full board decision.
In the end, boards must be able identify their own weaknesses and areas of improvement. An annual review is beneficial as it lets the board compare its performance with those of its peers.