Board Essentials Archives - Foundation for Shared Impact https://www.shared-impact.com/category/knowledge-hub/board-essentials/ We help the people who help people. Tue, 11 Mar 2025 04:29:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://www.shared-impact.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Board Essentials Archives - Foundation for Shared Impact https://www.shared-impact.com/category/knowledge-hub/board-essentials/ 32 32 140733588 Board Manual Template https://www.shared-impact.com/knowledge-hub/board-resources/board-governance/board-manual/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=board-manual Wed, 02 Aug 2023 08:13:02 +0000 https://www.shared-impact.com/?p=11643 Read our board manual template to learn about the essential elements of a board manual.

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]]> A Board Manual serves two main functions: as an orientation handbook for new board members, and a central resource about the organization and the board for board members’ service. Take a look at Foundation for Shared Impact’s Board Manual template to learn about the essential elements of a Board Manual.

This manual is a collaborative work between Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) and Macquarie Group Limited. Special thanks to Carl Fernando, Timmy Ho, and Deeviya Prasad.

Download this Template here

Take a look at our other resources curated for social impact organizations here.

What did you find helpful, or how can we improve? What other kinds of resources do you think we should be providing?
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Can’t access the above? Read an excerpt here.
How to Use this Manual

This manual is intended to be used as a guide to the creation of any organization’s board manual template. Some of the language may not be applicable to your organization, and you may want to consider adding sections and documents that are relevant to your organization. We encourage you to utilize the prompts (in blue and red font) to craft your own board manual. Prompts that are highlighted in blue are tips for your consideration, and red are explanations of what needs to be included in the section.

This manual is a collaborative work between Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) and Macquarie Group Limited. Special thanks to Carl Fernando, Timmy Ho, and Deeviya Prasad.

Table of Contents (for your own manual)
  1. Background and Legal Information 1
    • 1.1 Brief History or Fact Sheet 1
    • 1.2 Press Releases or Articles 1
    • 1.3 Relevant Legal Documents 1
    • 1.4 Meeting Minutes 1
  2. Financial Information
  3. Strategic Framework
  4. The Board
    • Board Members’ Names, Bios and Contact Information 4
  5. Board Responsibilities
  6. Board Member Responsibilities
    • 6.1 Board Member Terms
    • 6.2 Time Commitment
      [Include meeting attendance requirements and meeting schedule]
    • 6.3 Financial Commitment
    • 6.4 Fundraising
    • 6.5 Committee Chair/Member Commitment
  7. Board Committees
    • 7.1 Governance and Board Development Committee
    • 7.2 Fundraising Committee
    • 7.3 Finance Committee
    • 7.4 Program Committee
    • 7.5 Risk Management Committee
  8. Policies
  9. Organizational Information

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]]> 11643 The Four Questions to Ask When Serving on a Nonprofit Board https://www.shared-impact.com/knowledge-hub/the-four-questions-to-ask-when-serving-on-a-nonprofit-board/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-four-questions-to-ask-when-serving-on-a-nonprofit-board Mon, 31 Jul 2023 11:46:27 +0000 https://www.shared-impact.com/?p=11586 Read this resource written by William F. Meehan III and Kim Starkey Jonker from McKinsey&Company if you would like to know more about the questions to ask when serving on a nonprofit board. Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> Read this resource written by William F. Meehan III and Kim Starkey Jonker from McKinsey&Company if you would like to know more about the questions to ask when serving on a nonprofit board.

Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> 11586 Advisory Board Position Descriptions – Best Buddies https://www.shared-impact.com/knowledge-hub/advisory-board-position-descriptions-best-buddies/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=advisory-board-position-descriptions-best-buddies Mon, 24 Jul 2023 05:23:54 +0000 https://www.shared-impact.com/?p=11330 Read this resource written by Best Buddies if you would like to know more about the advisory board position descriptions. Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> Read this resource written by Best Buddies if you would like to know more about the advisory board position descriptions.

Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> 11330 Primer for Directors of Non-profit Corporations https://www.shared-impact.com/knowledge-hub/primer-for-directors-of-non-profit-corporations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=primer-for-directors-of-non-profit-corporations Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:00:26 +0000 https://www.shared-impact.com/?p=11279 Read this resource written by Peter Broder and Norah McClintock if you would like to know more about primer for directors of non-profit corporations. Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> Read this resource written by Peter Broder and Norah McClintock if you would like to know more about primer for directors of non-profit corporations.

Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> 11279 Legal Health Check for NGOs Trust Law [great questions for board members to ask] https://www.shared-impact.com/knowledge-hub/legal-health-check-for-ngos-trust-law/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=legal-health-check-for-ngos-trust-law Fri, 21 Jul 2023 08:20:25 +0000 https://www.shared-impact.com/?p=11275 Read this resource written by Thomson Reuters Foundation if you would like to know more about legal health check for NGOs trust law. Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> Read this resource written by Thomson Reuters Foundation if you would like to know more about legal health check for NGOs trust law.

Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> 11275 Keys to Productive Board Meetings https://www.shared-impact.com/knowledge-hub/keys-to-productive-board-meetings/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=keys-to-productive-board-meetings Fri, 21 Jul 2023 08:06:30 +0000 https://www.shared-impact.com/?p=11271 Read this resource written by BroadSource if you would like to know more about the keys to productive board meetings. Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> Read this resource written by BroadSource if you would like to know more about the keys to productive board meetings.

Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> 11271 Board Meetings FAQs https://www.shared-impact.com/knowledge-hub/board-essentials/board-meetings-faqs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=board-meetings-faqs Fri, 21 Jul 2023 07:54:13 +0000 https://www.shared-impact.com/?p=11269 Read this resource written by BoardSource if you would like to know more about board meetings FAQs. Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> Read this resource written by BoardSource if you would like to know more about board meetings FAQs.

Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> 11269 Basic Guidelines Concerning Board Membership https://www.shared-impact.com/knowledge-hub/basic-guidelines-concerning-board-membership/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=basic-guidelines-concerning-board-membership Fri, 21 Jul 2023 07:34:28 +0000 https://www.shared-impact.com/?p=11267 Read this resource written by Carl V. Rabstejnek if you would like to know more about the basic guidelines concerning board membership. Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> Read this resource written by Carl V. Rabstejnek if you would like to know more about the basic guidelines concerning board membership.

Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> 11267 Most Important Questions You Will Ever Ask About Your Organization https://www.shared-impact.com/knowledge-hub/most-important-questions-you-will-ever-ask-about-your-organization/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=most-important-questions-you-will-ever-ask-about-your-organization Fri, 21 Jul 2023 07:27:01 +0000 https://www.shared-impact.com/?p=11265 Read this resource written by Peter Drucker, Jim Collins, Philip Kotler, James Kouzes, Judith Rodin, V. Kasturi Rangan, and Frances Hesselbein if you would like to know more about the questions you will ever ask about your organization. Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> Read this resource written by Peter Drucker, Jim Collins, Philip Kotler, James Kouzes, Judith Rodin, V. Kasturi Rangan, and Frances Hesselbein if you would like to know more about the questions you will ever ask about your organization.

Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> 11265 Ten Basic Non-profit Board Responsibilities https://www.shared-impact.com/knowledge-hub/ten-basic-non-profit-board-responsibilities/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ten-basic-non-profit-board-responsibilities Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:42:09 +0000 https://www.shared-impact.com/?p=11251 Read this resource written by the BoardSource if you would like to know more about basic non-profit responsibilities. Take a look at more resources here.

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]]> Read this resource written by the BoardSource if you would like to know more about basic non-profit responsibilities.

Take a look at more resources here.

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