Many people find service as a board member of a not-for-profit organization to be a fulfilling way to “give back” to the community – a way of sharing the experiences and wisdom accumulated through decades of life and career experience.

Prospective board members come from all walks of life and bring varied experience to the Board.  The ability to understand financial reporting and to make business decisions is essential, and often board members have subject-area experience, for example, experience in management or law.  Collectively, board members have the experience to recognize and approve plans and strategies that will move the organization toward its goals.

A Touch of Understanding (ATOU) is structured with a ‘governance’ board, where day-to-day operations are handled by staff and volunteers, under the management of the Executive Director.  The Board sets the mission, vision, principles, and broad policies that guide the Executive Director.  The Board is responsible for employing and evaluating the Executive Director, and for monitoring parameters that measure the operation of ATOU.  The Executive Director works with his/her staff to develop material (e.g., strategic plans, budgets) for the Board’s consideration and approval -- Board members do not do that work themselves, but collectively have the experience to recognize and approve plans and strategies that will move the organization toward its goals.

Board members are expected to contribute time, experience, and effort for the betterment of ATOU. 

Organizational Roles

If you’d like to help ATOU but are unsure how to help, the table below contrasts the roles of the board, executive director, staff, and volunteers at ATOU.  As you read the items, think about what activities most suit your experience and interests.

ATOU is a small group of people joining together to share costs and workload, doing something good for themselves and their community. Most volunteers would like to do something specific, e.g., create a better web page, fundraising, help people get online, or assist in the office.  There are many people supporting ATOU by doing something specific, with their activity coordinated by staff, ranging from beginners to experts in their field.  Volunteers with considerable experience help the Executive Director by managing people doing work, e.g., project management.

Board members are stewards of the organization’s interests.  This is an activity well-suited to people who have a lot of experience (especially business management experience) and are in a position to ‘give back’ to the community.

ATOU is a disability-awareness program that originated in Granite Bay in the 1990’s. Through this program, more than 43,000 students throughout the Greater Sacramento area have gotten a glimpse into the lives of individuals with disabilities. ATOU’s mission is to encourage acceptance and respect for all individuals, and to instill positive attitudes towards people with disabilities. This is done through hands-on education, including using wheelchairs, writing in Braille, using mobility canes, handling braces and artificial limbs, and experiencing activities designed to help them understand the challenges of learning disabilities and autism. These exercises, along with speaking with individuals with disabilities leave a lasting awareness and sensitivity with each student.

Governance board members are outward-looking, focusing on ATOU’s position within the community and its relations with partners and sponsors.  They govern ATOU by setting the vision and annual objectives for the Executive Director, and evaluate progress by monitoring key parameters (such as donation levels, volunteers, and service quality), leaving details of how it’s done to the Executive Director and her team.  Whereas originally the day-to-day focus and load was on ATOU’s board, now the day-to-day focus and load is on the full-time paid Executive Director.

Do you have experience and skills to serve as a board member?  Are you familiar with the operation of a governance board?  Want to learn?  ATOU needs you!

Responsibilities of a Governance Board

The responsibilities of a board include the follows:

Organizational Operations

• Ensure that legal requirements are met and a strong board structure is in place
• Establish the policies and organizational structure with which the organization will be run
• Review, revise and recommend action on the constitution and bylaws
• Act in accordance with the constitution and bylaws
• Ensure that the organization meets standards (e.g., fire, health, safety, insurance)

Planning

• Decide the direction in which the organization will go in future years, both long and short range plans
• Develop and maintain programs and conduct evaluations
• Establish committees and set each committee’s mandate, composition, key responsibilities, authority and responsibility

Note: Staff may provide advice and may draft the planning documents for board approval

Financial Management

• Ensure that the organization is managed well financially
• Find sources of income to maintain the organization and to carry out programs
• Approve the annual operating budget
• Review the financial position and results at least quarterly
• Develop and approve long-term financial plans

Community Relations

• Interpret and support Board decisions in the community (including the general public, the people this organization represents)
• Project an effective and positive image
• Maintain an on-going relationship and communicate with sponsors and donors
• Develop awareness of the organization through newspapers, TV, radio, etc
• Engage in appropriate co-operative action with organization which have similar objectives

Human Resources

• Hire, supervise, evaluate the Executive Director
• Define job descriptions for staff and board members
• Ensure board effectiveness
• Evaluate performance annually