Resources for Board Members of Non-Profit Organizations

This pro-bono project was completed in collaboration with Inspire Foundation, a non-profit organization established to address issues of youth mental health and prevent youth suicide. This report is a compilation of resources for board members of non-profit organizations.

Boards of Non-Profit Organizations in Australia

Board members of non-profit organizations are faced with the issues of institutional context, governance and processes in exercising their role.

This report is divided into three sections:

1. Context of Non-Profit Governance

This section looks at the different levels of organizing by Australian entitites: non-profits, for-profits and charitable organizations. Issues and trends in non-profit governance are also covered. The Australian Charities Legislation and Charitable Status are discussed. Finally, this section looks at the role of the board and the role of a board member in a non-profit organization.

2. Board Governance in Non-Profit Organizations

This section is divided into ten parts. The first two parts looks at the different levels of governance and accountability, and the role, duties and functions of the board of directors. The third part looks into the strategic approaches of a non-profit such as the endowed-based and resource-generation status, planning, the fit between external circumstances and internal capabilities, policy development and governance processes. The rest of this section covers board models; financial reporting and audit requirements; human resources, marketing, advocacy and fundraising; sustainability and organizational evaluation.

3. Board Processes

The final section of this report looks into the nitty-gritty of the board processes in a non-profit organization. Similar to their for-profit counterparts, board membership covers board size, term limits, recruitment, succession planning and composition. Communicating the board processes are also important for non-profits. Lastly, board committees, task forces and advisory groups are discussed.

A full copy of the 50-page report is available upon request.

To qualify, please email a letter to Professor Thomas Clarke requesting the report, your role in the organization, and information about your organization. Your organization will be listed below.