Many Board of Directors still operate at the management “Day to Day” operational level not realizing that, in fact, they have a far more significant and greater responsibility … Students and instructors in the Organizations and Transactions Clinic, part of the Mills Legal Clinic at Stanford Law School, prepared all of the documents and commentary on the site. Are some of the board members unsure of their role? Wikipedia’s governance definition: Governance is the way the rules, norms, and actions are structured, sustained, regulated, and held accountable. As set out in the Terms of Use, we are not giving legal or tax advice, offering self-help guidance, or providing substantive legal information on this site. Board Self-Assessment; It’s not required for nonprofit organizations to perform annual board-self assessments. A nonprofit operates under the laws of the state where it is incorporated. Equally important is that the board abides by its bylaws. We do not guarantee that they reflect current law or are otherwise complete, much less that they are appropriate for use in any specific situation. DonorPerfect is proud to sponsor this information resource for the nonprofit community. Download the “My Nonprofit.zip” file. Board Member’s Activity Report (PDF) An excellent way for board members to be aware of their individual activity and engagement over the year. This individual self-evaluation will help you personally assess your board service. Articles of Incorporation (Filed April 1977) We are grateful for the extensive pro bono advice and counsel with regard to those documents provided by Tom Silk of Silk Nonprofit Law. Since a nonprofit pursues a mission rather than profit, the law places heightened responsibility on the organization's board for financial and managerial oversight. Emergency Succession Plan (PDF) What would happen if your organization was faced with the unexpected and sudden departure of your executive director? These are archetype legal documents. But, because nonprofit leaders also need to understand the demands of strategy implementation in the nonprofit sector, we will also explore the distinctive aspects of NPO management, particularly the most critical issues facing those leaders today. Are members actively involved? Exit Interview for Employees (PDF) When an employee leaves an organization, an exit interview is a helpful tool. What if I could give you lifetime access to the world’s leading board portal. They provide a roadmap for how the board operates. We encourage nonprofits and other non-lawyers to consult with counsel before using any of the materials found on the site. In addition to having them reviewed from a legal perspective, bylaws should reflect how the board wants to conduct its affairs. As a charitable nonprofit corporation exempt under the IRS code 501(c)(3), our governance and financial documents are a matter of public record. A board portal is a good central space for storing articles and documents on various nonprofit and governance issues. Site users should also understand that we practice in California and created the documents for use by California nonprofits who are our clients. Sample—Whistleblower Policy (PDF) Enhance your organization’s public accountability and transparency while providing your employees with the necessary protections for blowing the whistle. Users should also understand that review and use of these models does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and the Clinic or any of its lawyers or students. Their adoption by nonprofits may also improve the ability of corporations to attract charitable Adopting a policy for document retention and destruction ensures that you are in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The process by which boards fulfill this obligation varies. 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