(from the Nonprofit Quarterly) No two independent schools' boards are the same, but some underlying principals can support how effective a board is. The latest report from BoardSource, "Leading with Intent: 2017 National Index of Nonprofit Board Practices," posits that certain outcomes can indicate that a board is either too large or too small. For instance, a board may be too large if:
- There are too many members to meaningfully engage in full board conversations.
- The executive committee handles the "real deliberation and discussion on big organizational issues."
- Participation is almost honorary; members are disconnected from true governance of the organization.
Similarly, the report finds that a board may be too small if:
- It lacks access to expertise and perspectives that can help it make good decisions for the organization.
- It struggles to maintain independence or exert influence in a way that provides the CEO with sufficient oversight and balance.
- It lacks access to the networks that could expand its reach and reputation and help it secure the funding and influence it needs to do its work.
Read the full article at the Nonprofit Quarterly
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