Brain Bites – Board of Directors: Strategy

Board members perform a critical role in shaping the direction of their nonprofit organizations and acting as a guiding force to ensure the organization stays on track to fulfill its mission. This Bigger Brains course explains the multifaceted nature and responsibilities of this role.  

You’ll learn the essentials of the board’s fiduciary responsibilities, including budget development, financial planning, compensation, accounting, and reporting. You’ll also learn necessary steps for developing  a comprehensive risk management plan, important clauses to include in the board’s bylaws, common mistakes to avoid when drafting or updating your bylaws, and how to develop a strong conflict of interest policy.  

This information will help you build a culture of accountability and ethical leadership that can steer the nonprofit organization toward success. 

Topics covered include: 

• Identifying a board member’s most critical role in directing the organization  

• Explaining the difference between the CEO and Board President  

• Outlining strategic planning areas the board should address  

• Explaining the necessity of a written annual budget and financial reporting  

• Defining the Prudent Man Rule  

• Identifying the necessity of requiring more than one signature on financial transactions  

• Defining risk  

• Identifying potential risks  

• Planning for the occurrence of identified risks  

• Reviewing a director’s fiduciary duties  

• Discussing the need for optional, helpful clauses that aid in maintaining ethical operations and decision-making  

• Avoiding common mistakes when creating bylaws  

Enjoy award winning HD content in the “Uniquely Engaging”TM Bigger Brains style with Brain Bites! Brain Bites micro-learning courses are information-rich and convey important topics with an engaging mix of video and graphics. With short microlearning video lessons, Brain Bites provide the perfect tool to educate today’s busy workforce. All courses include captions and transcripts in 29 languages, downloadable handouts, and optional LinkedIn digital badges on course completion.