Trustee Toolkit

To expedite the conduct of routine business during board meetings in order to allocate more meeting time to education and discussion of substantive issues.

A duty of obedience to the charitable purpose of the organization, a duty that should be demonstrable in all the board’s decisions. A duty of loyalty, to act based on best interests of the organization and the wider community it serves, not the narrow interests of an individual or stakeholder group. A duty of care, to be diligent in carrying out the work of the board by preparing for meetings, attending faithfully, participating in discussions, asking questions, making sound and independent business judgments, and seeking independent opinions when necessary.

To clarify the difference between the board’s policy making responsibilities and management’s operational responsibilities.

The dashboard or “balanced scorecard” has become a staple of effective governance. Charts and numerical data provide a comprehensive picture of organizational performance. Here are some questions to assess whether your board’s dashboard is as good as it could be.

Leadership. Guides and directs the governance process, centering the work of the board on the organization’s mission, vision and strategic direction.

Overall Roles and Responsibilities -The Governance Committee provides for the board’s effectiveness and continuing development.

The Quality Committee assists the board in overseeing and ensuring the quality of clinical care, patient safety, and customer service provided throughout the organization.

A Board Orientation Manual reinforces information provided during orientation seminars. Consider these items in custom-designing an orientation manual for your board.

An increasing number of boards are moving away from having a standing committee on strategic planning. They reason that the entire board should understand and have a role in major decisions about the organization’s strategic direction, programs and services.

All new board members should participate in an orientation process shortly after election to the board. To design your board’s orientation process, consider these best practices.