Principles
and
Practices
for Florida
Nonprofit
Excellence
Governance:
A nonprofit’s board of directors is responsible for defining the
organization’s mission and for providing overall leadership and strategic direction to
the organization. Each nonprofit board should: 1) actively set policy and ensure that
the organization has adequate resources to carry out its mission; 2) provide direct
oversight and direction for the executive director and be responsible for evaluating
his/her performance; and 3) evaluate its own effectiveness as a governing body, as a
group of volunteers, and as representatives of the community in upholding the public
interest served by the organization.
Board Composition:
1) Nonprofit boards should be comprised of individual volunteers who are committed to
representing the best interests of the organization and its mission.
2) To ensure broad public participation, vitality and diversity, board members should serve for no
more than nine consecutive years.
3) To allow for sufficient deliberation and diversity of perspectives, nonprofit boards should
consist of no fewer than seven individuals.
4) Nonprofit boards must have a chair and a treasurer, and should have a vice-chair and
secretary. No one should occupy more than one officer position in the same organization at the
same time.
5) If staff membership on the board is deemed necessary, inclusion should be limited to the
executive director, who should not serve as the chair, vice-chair, secretary or treasurer.
Board Characteristics and Qualifications:
1) Nonprofits should strive towards board representation that reflects the
organization’s constituents.
2) Board members should be committed to the mission and dedicated to the success
of the nonprofit.
3) Board members should actively develop an understanding of the mission, ongoing activities,
finances and operating environment of the organization.
4) Board members should value diversity and understand the role of participation and inclusion in
the future success of the organization’s work.
5) To demonstrate their personal stake in the organization, board members are expected to
volunteer time, raise external funds and make financial contributions to the nonprofit.
Board Responsibilities:
1) Board members should be provided with a clear job description, orientation to the work of the
organization and ongoing training, and should fully understand their roles and responsibilities to
the organization and to the public.
2) Board members should understand the content and significance of the organization’s financial
statements and audit.
3) Boards should hold quarterly meetings (at a minimum) and expect regular attendance
of members.
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The Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations 7480 Fairway Drive, #205, Miami Lakes, Florida, 33014 305. 557. 1764
© 2013
