Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
Building a strong board is essential for any nonprofit—and integrating an ex officio director offers both promise and complexity. This article by Alex Godwin with Novelis North America explores what it means to appoint an ex officio director under Georgia law and provides a practical roadmap to ensure ex officio appointments enhance, rather than hinder, …
A 3-part PBPA Podcast Series Nonprofit board members and the executive director may sometimes have a tricky relationship, but they are always looking to further their nonprofit’s mission. In this PBPA Podcast series, we explore best practices for nonprofit board management of their executive director (“ED”), at every stage of the relationship. Whether you are …
With the constant stream of news coming out of Washington, it can feel overwhelming to keep up with all the changes. From major universities to small community-based organizations, nonprofits are being impacted by these new federal government initiatives. In this episode of the PBPA Podcast, Rachel Spears and Eadaoin Walsh bring board members up to speed …
Part III – Conflict and Termination One of the greatest challenges a nonprofit board of directors can face is managing conflict with and potentially terminating an executive director. While no board wants to find itself in this situation, it’s crucial to be prepared. In this episode of the PBPA podcast, Alex Drummond with Seyfarth Shaw …
One of the most important tasks a nonprofit board might encounter is managing the transition to a new executive director. With great succession planning, plenty of lead time and lots of luck, an executive director transition might be completely smooth and uneventful. But more often than not, boards don’t have adequate time to plan or …
Effective Oversight to Foster Collaboration & Prevent Overreach As the linchpin of a nonprofit, the executive director is tasked with translating the organization’s mission into action and managing day-to-day operations. But what role does the board of directors play in ensuring accountability while maintaining a collaborative partnership? And how can board members navigate the fine …
Part II of a two-part series (LINK to Part I) As a board member, it is not enough for you to just sit back and listen. Under state law, nonprofit board members have a duty of care that requires them to ask questions and be knowledgeable about the activities of the organization. You also have …
Nonprofit boards have a lot of responsibility and a lot of work to do. Board committees can help nonprofit boards work more efficiently and govern more effectively. In this article, Phil Thompson, partner at Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele, outlines how special committees can be a means by which directors can efficiently and effectively fulfill their duties …
Part I of a two-part series (LINK to Part II) As a board member, it is not enough for you to just sit back and listen. Under state law, nonprofit board members have a duty of care that requires them to ask questions and be knowledgeable about the activities of the organization. You also have …
Directors have legal duties to their nonprofit, and the board chair is in a unique position to oversee these duties. A chair can lead the board not just to govern, but to set the organization up for long-term success. In this episode of the PBPA Podcast, Marianna Faircloth with The Home Depot will outline best …
While nonprofit board members are motivated to serve by passion for an organization’s mission, could a nonprofit also pay them? Paying nonprofit board members for their service raises many legal issues that are very difficult to overcome. Read this article to learn about the types of payments a nonprofit might make to a board member, which ones …
Whether your nonprofit has had Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (“DEI”) at its core since inception, or you are just now hearing about it for the first time, DEI programs should be evaluated both at conception and on an on-going basis. Otherwise, these good intentions may sometimes have unintended consequences. In this episode of the PBPA …
Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta · Board Members and Personal Liability: Options for Nonprofits to Minimize their Risk In this episode of the PBPA Podcast, Erin McGinnis answers our questions about shielding board members from personal liability for volunteer services, while also minimizing risk to the organization. Our guest will walk us through the many …
Nonprofit staff and board are all on the same team, but problems can arise if the roles of team members are unclear. In this webcast, PBPA’s Justine Cowan, who has served as both an executive director and a board member herself, will discuss how to navigate the complex board-staff relationship, including: • Key policies that …
PBPA Executive Director, Rachel Epps Spears discusses the good habits that make a successful board member. Learn to be an effective partner to the organization you care so much about and help avoid the pitfalls of financial mismanagement. This knowledge is more important than ever, especially considering recent closures of several well-established nonprofits in Atlanta. …
Many small nonprofits have close ties to separate for-profit corporations. – Does a for-profit provide a lot of your 501(c)(3)’s support? – Was your 501(c)(3) public charity started by a for-profit entity that does similar or connected work to your 501(c)(3)? – Do you share clients or refer clients to one another? These scenarios, plus …
Nonprofits hold board meetings quarterly if not monthly. These meetings are required by the organization’s bylaws and at least yearly by law, but it’s hard to find training for Executive Directors, CEOs and Board Chairs regarding how to prepare for and run such meetings. More importantly, how does one make such meetings effective? During this …
Under Georgia law, government agencies and even some nonprofits are required to make certain meetings and records open to the public. Georgia’s Open Records Act and Open Meetings Act provide broad public access to such records and meetings. During this webinar, our speaker helps nonprofits understand: – When a nonprofit is required to comply …
This article sets forth best practices for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation to consider when determining the size and composition of its board of directors.
While many nonprofits use the term member to mean supporter, donor, participant or friend, the term “member” actually has a technical definition under Georgia law. Deciding on whether or not your organization should have members in a legal sense is important because it affects who controls the organization. Learn more about what it means to …
Updated August 27th 2024 Effective governance policies are crucial for every nonprofit, and a Conflict of Interest (COI) policy is especially important. Board directors and other key personnel in nonprofits are often busy with personal and business activities, which can lead to the board unintentionally failing to recognize potential conflicts of interest. Even with an existing …
Keeping good minutes in board meetings is more than just a good idea. It’s required! Click here to learn more. Please note that in addition to the legal disclaimer above, this article contains information that is based, in whole or in part, on the laws of the District of Columbia. As a result, the information …
Can the board of directors of a nonprofit organization vote electronically on matter?Electronic Voting Laws
Since Enron, the board of directors has been required to take on a greater role in overseeing the financial affairs of a nonprofit organization. All of your board members should read this! Please note that in addition to the legal disclaimer above, this article contains information that is based, in whole or in part, on …