Board Sustainability: How Are We Doing? - Introduction Print
Philanthropy is a gift. From its Greek root, meaning “love of humankind,” it embodies the best of humanity-voluntary acts of service for the common good.

The way most people practice philanthropy today is through a special class of organizations called “non-profit”.

These organizations, because of their role improving our communities, are accorded a host of privileges by the government:
  • Nonprofit organizations don’t pay taxes on much of the income they receive.
  • Donors receive a tax deduction for contributions made to a special category of nonprofits known as 501(c)3s in the tax code.
  • Nonprofits can use the unpaid services of volunteers and not run afoul of labor laws.
Interestingly, nonprofit organizations don’t belong to any one person or group of people. Instead, their assets are “owned” by society as a whole. In fact, when a nonprofit is dissolved, its property must be distributed to another nonprofit.

To ensure that these special organizations meet their moral and legal responsibilities, they are entrusted – thus the word, ‘trustee’ – to the individuals who serve on their boards.

Which brings me to you.

Your two principal charges as a nonprofit board are to “serve the common good” and “to protect the assets of your organization.” And the decisions you make while carrying out your duties can, and often do, affect people’s lives dramatically. In other words, this is serious business.

With such a load to shoulder, you might expect to undergo hours of rigorous training – a sort of “directors ed” to help you steer the proper course.

But the reality is, most of us simply jump behind the wheel and learn on the job. What training we do receive is usually patchwork rather than formal.

As a consequence, not only are there swerves and hazards along the way, but it can be difficult to judge just what kind of job your board is doing.

In my view, your performance as a board is measured against three yardsticks:
  1. How will you make the community better?   
  2. How good a steward are you?
  3. How well do you work as a team?
You’ve chosen to generously devote yourself to an important cause. What you deserve in turn is the opportunity to experience the extraordinary joy of philanthropic service.


Adapted from: Gifford, G.  How Are We Doing by Gayle L. Gifford, Emerson and Church, Publishers, 2005. Used with permission.