Boards of directors charged as stewards of an organization have to be fundamentally knowledgeable about and actively engaged in the business models of the organizations they govern.
How many of your board members can read your organization’s financials? Following the Treasurer’s report, do the people seated around your conference table feel comfortable asking specific questions related to the organization’s budget, cash flow, program costs, reserves, investments, and the annual audit? If the answer is few to none, you are not alone, and Jean Bell’s article in the Nonprofit Quarterly, Beyond Financial Oversight: Expanding the Board’s Role in the Pursuit of Sustainability, will resonate whether you are a chief executive, board member, or the CFO.