Nonprofit Resource Center
Articles and resources to help your nonprofit board make a bigger difference.
Anatomy of an Effective Board Meeting
Good board meetings don’t just happen—they’re planned, purposeful, and facilitated. Here’s a practical, listicle-style guide to running meetings that actually deliver results. 1. Clearly Define the...
8 Best Practices for Nonprofit Board Governance
Board members should not feel like “docile mushrooms—warm and in the dark.” - McFarlan and Epstein’s Nonprofit Boards: A Guide. This phrase is a vivid reminder that strong governance depends on...
The Role of the Board: 7 Basic Responsibilities
There’s a meaningful difference between sitting on a board and serving on one. Sitting implies attendance while serving implies stewardship. The most effective board members understand that their...
Evaluating the Nonprofit Chief Executive
A Guide for Nonprofit Boards A strong chief executive can take your mission further, faster—but only if your board is actively supporting, assessing, and guiding their leadership. One of the most...
Gear Up Your Governance Committee: 6 Steps to Building a Stronger Board
How to Gear Up Your Governance Committee If you’ve ever served on a nonprofit board, you know the difference between one that’s just “getting by” and one that’s really leading. Strong boards ask...
VIDEO: The Role of Nonprofit Boards in Fundraising
Grants Plus and Business Volunteers Unlimited discuss the role of nonprofit boards in fundraising. Fundraising to support missions and communities is a daily reality for all nonprofit organizations...
3 Board Assessments That Strengthen Governance
Strong nonprofit boards don’t just check boxes. They reflect, learn, and adapt. One of the most effective ways to improve board performance isn’t a new policy or a retreat, but pausing to ask a few...
How to Strengthen Nonprofit Board Engagement
In BVU's pulse survey, 76% of nonprofit leaders in Northeast Ohio describe their boards as effective. While 76% is a solid score, it’s average — a "C" grade. Yet many nonprofits still call BVU...
Key Traits of Successful Nonprofit Chief Executives
Nonprofit chief executives are vital to an organization's success, and there are several key leadership traits and skills that often make a difference in this role. Leadership Traits ...
Strategic Planning: Benefits & Basic Steps
Elizabeth Voudouris, President & CEO Julie Clark, VP, Nonprofit Engagement The Crucial Role of Strategic Panning: Steering through challenges and seizing opportunities What do most nonprofit...
Get the Governance Right
One key element of a healthy nonprofit organization is a strong board. A strong board: Can clearly identify its work and its role for a particular nonprofit at any point in time. Is comprised of...
The Unique Value of Nonprofit Succession Planning
Nonprofits face a unique talent challenge, filling fewer senior roles internally compared to businesses. A recent survey reveals that only 30-40% of nonprofits promote from within, while 64% of...