I’ve served on non-profit boards—and worked with them—for decades. But as the health and human service field continues to evolve, I have questions about whether the current governance role for non-profit boards of directors is working or can work.
The big issue is the changing role of non-profit health and human service provider organizations in the…

The role of non-profit health and human service organizations has been changing over the past two decades. More Americans are now covered by health insurance and less reliant on “safety net” services, there is more risk-based contracting, and there is more competition for consumers and health plan contracts. And, the pandemic has accelerated these and more trends. As Monica E. Oss,…

In the United States, diversity on boards—both for-profit and non-profit—is still a long way from reflecting the diversity of the populations served by their organizations. White individuals hold 84% of Fortune 500 board seats but make up 60% of the population; Black individuals hold 8.6% of board seats but constitute 12.5% of the population; Latinos…

Recruiting for non-profit board members is tough any time. The “good candidates” are busy people. The unpaid responsibilities are many. So I’m not surprised that 80% of non-profits are actively recruiting between one and six board members at any given time. Or that more than half — 58% — of non-profit leaders report that it is difficult to recruit…

Non-profit governance in health and human services needs a makeover—and new roles for board members. The board’s role should be to make sure the chief executive officer (CEO) has developed a great strategy for the organization, assure that the organization is keeping that strategy on track with relevant metrics, ensure that charitable funds are appropriately used, and bring…

The non-profit health and human service organization’s governance needs are changing – and becoming less similar to non-profit organizations in other sectors. Why? More of the organization’s total income is coming from services, there is more competition for that service revenue, which has more reimbursement tied to performance, and there are shifting standards for maintaining…

Excerpt
Boards are a legal necessity for non-profits but how to get real value out of the board is always the question. It starts with the governance model.
The Institute On Governance in Canada outlines seven governance models based on a study of a variety of nonprofits (see Governance Do’s & Don’ts: Lessons…