Nonprofit Governance Models
There comes a point in every nonprofit where founders realize they need advice, direction and pairs of hands. Many nonprofits create a board of director at this point. There are many different boards that are my blog not the same. In fact, there is various governance models that can be utilized to ensure that your nonprofit is run properly and fulfills its stated mission.
The advisory model is among the most popular models for governance in nonprofits. This permits the executive director to meet regularly with an advisory board for advice on how to run the organization. The governing board can be different or the same than the advisory board, based on the terms agreed upon. Another popular model is the model of cooperative governance. This is a highly democratic system that distributes power equally among all board members. It is most effective for organizations who are not legally required to have an executive director.
The Policy Board Model has also become extremely popular. The model for governance was devised by John Carver and is a ideal tool for establishing guidelines that management and the board have to adhere to.
Although all of them are great models, they might not be the right choice for your organization. It is typical for nonprofits to have a central governance model to which they will add additional models to meet their particular needs. This mix of systems can help your organization grow and achieve its goals.