Nonprofit Board Answer Book: Practical Guide for Board Members and Chief Executives

by Robert C. Andringa and Theodore Wilhelm Engstrom

Book Overview

Practical Guide for Board Members and Chief Executives This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1586860291
• ISBN13: 9781586860295
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Board Source
• Length: 299 Pages
• Weight: 1.41 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Excellent resource

I purchased this book for the Board of Directors of a new organization with whom I'm associated. The book, although a few years old, is an excellent resource for any organization seeking to create a Board of Directors.

Must have for all staff and board members of nonprofits

The book is organized with very straightforward chapters with suggested action steps. The combination of discussion and practical application makes the book the one reference book needed for anyone working with nonprofits.Excellence in governance can be achived by following this book. Excellence in government results in the most efficient use of staff and financial resources in fullfillment of the mission of a nonprofit.

A Must-Have for Senior Staffs and Volunteer Leaders

This is a must-have book for nonprofit senior staffs as well as for volunteer board members who aspire to leadership and stewardship of the organizations they serve. It definitely lives up to the promise of the assertion on the book jacket that the authors, "...who collectively have more than 70 years of experience as chief executives, board members, and facilitators in the training of more than 20,000 board members in 20 countries..."The book is comprised of 37 short chapters (typically 3-6 pages each) in five sections, designed to address all aspects of board service and board/staff issues. Each chapter provides facts, opinions, tools, and a few "suggested action steps" to help a board address the issue or situation presented in the chapter.In general, the authors reference John Carver as a good resource for the theory and practice of nonprofit governance, but they don't make Carver the precise and proscriptive recipe that some adherents do. They admit the possibility that other techniques and structures can work well for certain organizations, while "sticking to their guns" in presenting their experiences and insights as having inherent value for most nonprofits.I was especially impressed by the distinction made between the role of the board and the role of board members. Many policy governance disputes stem from a misunderstanding that, somehow, all board members should have the same responsibilities and be treated interchangeably. I would have liked to see a clearer treatment of the issue of board diversity; interestingly, the authors seem to agree, admitting that it's a very difficult subject to address. Many board "diversity" programs focus on narrowly-defined "diversity" and run the danger of leading to "tokenism," according to the authors. The charts and checklists that supplement the text are simple and effective. They're easy for readers to re-create and use in their own organizations. The book even admits of the possibility that nonprofits can (and sometimes should) dissolve and disband, and provides strategies for helping board, staff, and community understand, accept, and even support the natural cycle of life as it applies to organizations. It's an important message and not a negative one.Although originally published in December, 1997, it has already had three printings as of August, 1999. With 15 million volunteer board members in the U.S. alone, the publishers could run through many more printings.

Required reading for both new and experienced board members.

Absolutely, without exception, this should be required reading for both new and experienced board members and senior management. Andringa and Engstrom, clearly, are not theoretical "ivory tower" authors. They've been in the trenches with the rest of us--and offer sound, practical counsel. It's a helpful book to give to new board members as part of their board orientation. Certainly every board chair needs one. Well worth the price. Board meetings will get done earlier if you take just 10% of the authors' advice!

A "must read" for anyone serious about non-profit governance

Drawing on two lifetimes of experience, Andringa and Engstrom have addressed a broad array of crucial issues. I enjoyed the fact that it was long enough to deal throughly with dozens of key issues and yet moved quickly from topic to topic. I had several, "I wish I'd thought of that" moments when Andringa and Engstrom crystallized a thought I'd been rolling around in the foggy recesses of my mind.CEO's of Non-Profits should take special note of the practical suggestions in chapters 5, 14, 19, 21 & 26. Board members who are serious about making a contribution will benefit greatly from chapters 1, 4, 5, 7, 16, 22, 28 & 34.The book reads quickly and can be completed in one sitting but serves best as a reference with short practical responses to frequently asked questions. Engstrom has produced many excellent works but I hope we will see more from Andringa as well.