Role of the Board of Directors Print

All state organizations have a board of directors or advisors/trustees that are responsible for the successful operation of the organization.  These leaders are responsible for the following activities:

  1. Determine Mission
  2. Define Goals
  3. Set Policies for Operations
  4. Establish Fiscal Policy and Boundaries, Budgets and Controls
  5. Provide Adequate Resources
  6. Select, Evaluate, and Terminate Chief Executive
  7. Develop and Maintain Communication to Community
  8. Ensure Lawfulness
  9. Evaluate Mission
  10. Evaluate Goals
Most organizations have boards of 15-24 members with special attention paid to having equal members on the board from each of the 10 circles in the organizational model that follows.

It is recommended that board members also have limited terms to assure freshness and interest in the work of the organization.  Most organizations ask board members to serve 2 or 3 year terms and do not permit more than 2 consecutive terms.

Successful organizations that grow and mature in effectiveness do not have designated seats for specific agencies or organizations on the board.  Individuals are asked to become board members because they have a sincere interest in the issue of teen pregnancy and can speak for themselves in developing organizational policy.

When a board has designated agency seats, rather than individual seats, there is often a lack of continuity in who the agency sends to meetings and a lack of commitment to the organization because the person is not there by choice.  Organizations that have operated this way have also been impeded because these “designated seats” cannot make decisions without agency approval. Board members must be free to make individual decisions and to be accountable for these decisions.

Circles of Leadership: Ensuring Diverse Representation on Board

Teen pregnancy prevention organizations are most effective when they include representation from a diverse group of community representatives and sectors. In pulling the Board  together, think about inviting people who will bring unique perspectives and different contributions but who will also unequivocally support teens’ access to comprehensive sexuality education and confidential family planning services. Strive to include members representing the following groups:
Circles of Leadership
Effective state and local organizations need to secure leaders from each of these areas. An ideal size of a Board is 15-20 with 2 members from each circle.

 


Source: Huberman, B., Advocates for Youth, 2009