The Little Book of Boards: A Board Member’s Handbook for Small (and Very Small) Nonprofits
By Erik Haneberg
A client recently introduced me to this wonderful book on board work for small organizations, which describes most of the organizations I work with. It’s a well-written overview of how boards can work best and how to avoid the pitfalls that many of us fall into. There aren’t a lot of good resources for small organizations out there and this book really fills the gap. It’s also easy to read.
The book explains the responsibilities of a board in a clear way, starting out by talking about the fundamentals of setting the mission, policies, and budget for the work. He then talks about the importance of committees and provides a good example of how valuable they can be. Committees are a great way to have in-depth conversations on a topic outside a board meeting, to ensure that board meetings don’t drag on and on.
Some other great aspects of the book – he clearly describes board responsibilities, and shares some ideas on bylaws, recruitment, and leading a board. There’s a lot packed into a small book.
I highly recommend this book for any board of a small organization. It would be a great read for everyone on the board. It covers the essential practical information you need to be a fantastic board of directors.
The Little Book of Boards is available through the author’s site in various formats.