The Council believes that to be effective, organized philanthropy must operate with the highest degree of stewardship and accountability. Good governance is key to obtaining these goals. The resources below are intended to educate board members and trustees on common topics that affect them as stewards of their organization.

Board Functions

Learn about board roles and core responsibilities such as setting direction, setting policies and hiring and evaluating the CEO. Also includes various governance best practices principles against which to measure your foundation.

Board Building

Get knowledgeable about cultivating your board including orientation, assessment and board succession.

Legal Issues

Educate yourself on the various legal concerns of which boards should be aware. Included are resources on such topics as accountability, compensation, compliance, conflicts, self-dealing. reporting and recordkeeping.


Board Structure

Read views on board organization including board size, composition, and committees.

Board Effectiveness

Read about ways to enhance board performance and improve board meetings.

Research

Learn what other foundations are doing through surveys and benchmarks.

Other Governance Resources

Check out a list of other organizations and publications that focus on nonprofit governance.