Board/CEO Roles: Who's responsible?

Nonprofit board members often struggle with their roles: How much involvement is too much? When does governance devolve into meddling? Who's in charge of what?

Such struggles are not just common; at BoardWalk, we think they're necessary to a healthy division of responsibilities. By definition, balance requires dynamic tension, and boards that do not struggle with their roles may have gotten overly comfortable with the status quo.

There is no "right" balance appropriate for all boards, but there is a right balance for your board. The challenge is to reach that balance by decision and not by default.

We have developed a simple tool to help boards and CEOs articulate, in a very straightforward, non-threatening fashion, just who is--and who should be--in charge of what. By completing the tool, board members can see how their individual perceptions line up on specific responsibilities and where, as a group, their perceptions may differ from the CEO's.

Having assessed where things are today, both parties can then make informed, deliberate choices about shared responsibilities going forward.

Selection criteria set for next Triangle Community Foundation president

Last month's smorgasBoard^SM announced the launch of BoardWalk's search for the next President of the Triangle Community Foundation, located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

Since then, we have held numerous meetings with the search committee, other members of TCF's board, the current management team, and a cross-section of community leaders to develop the approved search mandate, available via the link below.

We welcome nominations and other suggestions as we develop a slate of compelling finalists for the committee's review.

Jeff Moore elected to American Running board: Thanks to our readers!

Last month, we used smorgasBoard^SM to publicize a board opportunity with the American Running Association, America's premier nonprofit promoting fitness through running and other active lifestyles. Happily, an introduction provided by one of our readers has resulted in a new board member for ARA.

Jeff Moore is Director of Business Development at Teleflex, a $2.5-billion manufacturer of specialty engineered products for the automotive, marine, industrial, medical and aerospace industries. As such, he is responsible for managing acquisitions and divesitures for this Pennsylvania-based company. Jeff holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics, with minors in Physics and Math, from Auburn University and a MBA (as a Rollins Scholar and Fuqua Fellow) from Duke University.

With a personal best of 3 hours, 15 minutes, Jeff becomes one of the fastest marathoners on ARA's board. A former Captain in the United States Marines, he has been an active supporter (and chapter officer) of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Current members of ARA's board are thrilled to have a trustee of such promise join the national board, and Jeff is thrilled to have another outlet for his passions for youth and fitness.

Special thanks to smorgasBoard's readers for helping us make this connection!