Articles
Plain-language guidance on governance, compliance, and building a board that actually governs.
When Your Fiscal Year Ends and the Books Aren't Ready: Governing the Close
The fiscal year ended weeks ago, but your financial statements still aren't finalized. Here's how a board should respond to a slow close without micromanaging or ignoring a real warning sign.
When Two Board Members Won't Speak to Each Other
A personal feud between directors can quietly stall decisions and drive good people away. Here is how the chair and the board can address it without taking sides.
The Board's Role When a Program Depends on One Irreplaceable Person
When a single staffer, volunteer, or expert holds a program together, their departure can end it overnight. Here is how boards spot key-person risk and build resilience before a crisis hits.
When a Board Member and the Executive Director Are Related: Managing Family Ties
Family relationships between a director and staff aren't automatically forbidden, but they demand structure. Here's how boards manage the conflicts, optics, and legal risks that come with them.
When a Board Member Asks to Bring on Their Own Company as a Vendor's Subcontractor
Indirect conflicts of interest are easy to miss and hard to unwind. Here is how boards spot the layered deal and handle it before it becomes a headline.
When Your Nonprofit Inherits Real Estate You Didn't Ask For
A bequest of a house or building can be a gift or a liability. Here is how the board should evaluate, accept, or decline inherited real estate without getting stuck holding a money pit.