Each colour-coded section is designed as a stand alone section with individual chapters which address areas of challenge, relevant to your Board depending on your organization's Board development needs.

You will be able to view an HTML version of the text as well as download a printable version in a PDF format. You may also download the entire document as a single PDF file - A - Z of Board Governance ( PDF, 2.5MB)

Section One - Yellow (Young Organizations / Building with New Board Members)

A Applying to Become a Non-Profit Organization
	Eligibility
	Sample Constitution and By-laws
	Registered Charitable Tax Number
B Boards
	Who Are They?
	Why Have Them?
	What is their Purpose?
	Areas of Responsibility
C Committees
	Who Are They?
	Why Have Them?
	What is their Purpose?
	Types of Committees?
D Directors and Officers
	Who Are They?
	How Are They Appointed?
E The Executive Director
	Are We Ready for Paid Staff?
F The Board and Finance
	Financial Responsibility of Boards
	Developing a Budget
	Reading Financial Statements
G Governance Models
	Different Types of Models for Your Organization
	What is Good Governance?

Section Two - Blue (Developed Organizations with Experienced Board members)

H Hiring The Executive Director
	Finding the Right Fit
	Relationship Between the Executive Director and the Board
	Hiring and Firing - Best Practices
	The Executive Director's Performance Review
I Internet and Technology
	Using the Internet to Gather Resources
J Juggling Competing Priorities
	Staying on Track with the Mission
	Core Values and Core Statements
	How Do You Prioritize the Internal Health and Mission of the Organization
K Knowledge Based Board Development
	Board Orientation
	Developing an Orientation Manual
L Liability Insurance and Risk Management
	Board Member Liability - Myths vs. Reality
	Do I Have the Right Insurance for My Organization?
	What Kinds of Situations Should We Have Coverage For?
M Meetings
	Making Meetings Work
	When Should We Have Meetings?
	Meeting Climate Survey Tool
	Chairing Effective Meetings
N Nominating Process for Board Development
	The Nominating Grid
	Role of the Nominating Committee
	Why Have a Nominating Committee?
O Organizational Effectiveness
	Are We Doing a Good Job?
	Benchmarking Exercises for Non-Profit Organizations

Section Three - The Red Zone (The Mature Organization with Experienced Board Members)

P Policy Development
	Developing Effective Board Governance Policies
	Sample Policies for Non Profit Boards
Q Q & A
	Questions Most Asked by Board Members
R Recruitment and Retention of Board Members
	Effective Recruitment Strategies
	Retaining Good Board Members
	Letting Ineffective Board Members Go
S Strategic Planning for the Board
	Developing n Effective Strategic Plan
	Shelf Life - Don't Leave Your Strategic Plan on the Shelf
T Top Ten Issues for Board Members
	How to Get the Most Out of Your Board
	What Does Every Good Board Member Need to Know
	How Do We Match Needs with Experiences
U Understanding the Organization's Place in the Community
	Effective Community Relations
	Coalitions and Collaborations
	Dealing with the Media
V Voluntary Management Principles
W Using the Web
	Getting Your Message Out
	Developing a Website for Your Organization
	Developing an Effective Communications Plan
X X-Ray Vision - The Board's Need for Transparency
	Code of Ethics for Board Governance
	Board Evaluation
	Modeling Best Practices
Y Youth Involvement
	How to Successfully Involve Youth on Your Board
	Succession Planning - The Leaders of Tomorrow
Z Zenith - We Have Achieved Our Mission!
	Organizations in the Red Zone - Best Practices
	Some Examples of High Performance Organizations