Nonprofit Governance Models

There comes a point in every nonprofit where founders recognize they need advice, direction and pairs of hands. Many nonprofits form boards of directors at this point. But not all boards work the same. In fact, there is various governance models that can be employed you can try these out to ensure your charitable organization is run properly and fulfills its stated purpose.

One of the most well-known governance models for nonprofits is the advisory model. This allows the executive director to consult with a board of advisors frequently for guidance on how to run a nonprofit. The governing board may be different or the same from the advisory board based on the guidelines agreed on. Another common model is the cooperative governance model. It is a democratic system that distributes the power equally among all board members. It is best suited for those organizations that are not legally required to have the chief executive officer.

The Policy Board Model has also become extremely popular. The model for governance was devised by John Carver and is a great tool for creating guidelines that management and the board have to adhere to.

All of these models are great but they may not be the best fit for your particular nonprofit. Fortunately, it’s common for nonprofits to have one central governance model, and add other models to meet the specific needs of their organizations. This is a great combination of systems that will help your organization thrive and achieve its goals.