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Public Trust and Nonprofit Governance By Sue Moore Fenske/ElevateNPT Public trust is the single most valuable asset nonprofit organizations possess. Without it, donors hesitate, volunteers disengage, and communities question whether organizations can deliver meaningful impact. Recent research indicates that nonprofit organizations remain among the most trusted institutions in American society, ranking ahead of government, media, and corporations. However, trust is far from universal....

Strong governance is not about control — it’s about clarity, courage, and follow- through. 1. Clarify Roles and Boundaries Board governs, staff manages. The board owns strategy, oversight, and accountability. The CEO/ED owns execution. Explicit expectations. Each board member should understand their fiduciary duties — Care, Loyalty, and Obedience — and what those look like day-to-day. Regular role recalibration. Revisit the board–ED 'operating agreement' annually to avoid drift and...

IS YOUR BOARD STRATEGIC OR OPERATIONAL? Ask most nonprofit boards whether they provide strong strategic leadership, and the majority will say yes. Yet examine the agenda of a typical board meeting, and you will find discussions about staffing, program logistics, vendor selection, or event planning. These topics are important — but they are operational, not strategic. How strategic is your board? Use this board diagnostic to find out!