12 Step Program...

Step Seven

Select a Board of Directors

Establish a Board of Directors preferably with at least seven members. The Board is the governing body of the organization and will make the decisions and do the planning that determine the organization's success. When selecting Board members, be sure to look for a diversity of skills and experience. Board members should be kept informed of the operations of the nonprofit and should be knowledgeable about the activities. Create a simple, clear decision-making structure for the Board, so that all Board members understand how they can contribute.

Since this is a faith-based organization, an attempt should be made to integrate Christian values and concepts into the fabric. There are four facets to the uniqueness of a Compassionate Ministry Center: a common Christian faith, the Christian worldview, doctrinal distinctives, and accountability to God.

Training and Retention
Once individuals have agreed to serve on the Board of Directors, it is important to orient them to the organization. Board members need to understand the organization to serve it effectively. Providing them with background information will help them to become involved more easily. Giving new members concrete tasks will allow them to develop a sense of belonging. It will also provide the board with an opportunity to give new members formal recognition for their specific contributions early in their term of service.

Every Board member will need ongoing training to remain on the forefront of organizational issues. This can be accomplished at regular meetings or at designated training meetings. In addition, annual board retreats are a good method for integrating new members, building cohesion among members, and taking time to reflect on the past year's performance. Ongoing training will help Board members feel educated and involved.

The responsibilities of the Board and its members should be as follows:

Regularly attends Board meetings and important related meetings.
Makes serious commitment to participate actively in committee work.
Volunteers for and willingly accepts assignments and completes them thoroughly and on time.
Stays informed about committee matters, prepares themselves well for meetings, and reviews and comments on minutes and reports.
Gets to know other committee members and builds a collegial working relationship that contributes to consensus.
Is an active participant in the committee's annual evaluation and planning efforts.
Participates in fund raising for the organization
Finally, Board members should be chosen to fill particular niches, interests, and future program trends for the organization. The selection of Board members should be driven by the priorities expressed in the mission statement, and whenever possible, the Board should be evaluated to gauge the efficiency with which results are obtained.
Suggestions for Further Reading

Coles, Robert. The Call of Service: A Witness to Idealism. Houghton Mifflin, 1993.

Nason, John W. Foundation Trusteeship: Service in the Public Interest. Foundation Center, 1989.

O'Connell, Brian. The Board Member's Book: Making a Difference in Voluntary Organizations. Foundation Center, 1985.