Here's some helpful thoughts from Directors and Boards about meeting topics.      THOUGHT LEADERSHIP IN GOVERNANCE Newsletter, September 4, 2023     Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to receive your own copy.                       Will AI Write Your Next Agenda? Maybe Labor Day isn’t the best time to talk about this, but according to a report from the Center for American Progress, Goldman Sachs estimates that about two-thirds of curren ..read more

It is generally the rule that nonprofit board members must both sign a promise to identify and avoid conflicts of interests with their nonprofit.  But the Las Vegas Review Journal suggests that sometimes conflicts of interest are not so simple.   ..read more

You can learn a lot more about what happened through the links in this story but it's clear there were multiple board and exec fails.  According to the editorial - all has passed - but has it with just a change in professional leadership? Read on.   The Editorial Board: New CEO shows that, like Shea's, Forest Lawn has learned a lesson Aug 28, 2023   Two important nonprofit organizations in Western New York suffered through a torturous 2022 over fractured leadership but, now, both are showing signs of moving to a better time. Most recent is Forest Lawn, which on Wednesda ..read more

National and International Sporting League boards do not have a great reputation for taking action in the defense of women.  However, FIFA has stepped up and imposed a sanction on the Spanish soccer federation head, Rubiales as described below in 1440 Daily Digest.  Yes this is a story that hit the news with Rubiales offering an unsolicited kiss to one of the winning Women's World Cup members.  Yes, this is plain and simple sexual assault.  Rubiales is not apologetic and he is of course essentially challenging his board to take action.  Of course a simple answer f ..read more

Commentary in today's Washington Post should come as no surprise while at the same time being quite unsettling.  The subject: church (a blanket name for places of worship).  The reality, many citizens aren't.  The issue for me: core values or at least a source and reinforcement of core values.  Another consequence: fewer to care about our fellow beings and this reality has an impact on the nonprofit world.  If there is no central source of awokeness, in the proper and most positive sense of the word, then all else fails and we begin to create a country that looks very ..read more

There's a big controversy in Arizona over essentially whether the board of the nonprofit that addresses the development of school boards throughout the state fulfilled its duty of care (due diligence) in hiring its executive.  The story from the Arizona Republic suggests its did not.  The consequence: the story from the Arizona Central, to begin with.  What do you think? EDUCATION Arizona school boards group rocked by controversy over resume of executive director Ray Stern Arizona Republic   View Comments   The president of the Arizona School Boards Association res ..read more

The following Royal Examiner letter to the editor offers a detailed outline as to why the private nonprofit sector can at times offer more than the public sector or for-profit sector for that matter.  I would pose of course that many of the issues highlighted in this letter about the state of the library (which apparently due to politics' future is up for grabs) are pertinent to many boards in terms as to how they must continue present and future.  It's a good read.   OPINION Facts, Accounting, and Homework, Oh My!! A Library Supporter Digs Into the Finances   Published ..read more

During the celebration and awarding of trophys to the Spanish Women's Soccer Team and in recognition of their having won the World Cup, the President of Spain's Soccer President openly and apparently unabashedly kissed a player receiving an award on the mouth. On the surface this "sounds" innocent but rest assured, this was not an act of innocence and rather a sexual assault.  Any act that crosses the personal safety of an individual and is threatening and unwanted is an assault - a violent act. Thankfully, and given its somewhat dubious history in this realm, FIFA in addition to the Span ..read more

The following might knock off your socks if you think as a nonprofit board member you can't be sued for your bad actions.  Do read on.     August 21, 2023   California Supreme Court Sets Precedent – Unlike For-Profit Corporate Directors – Former Non-Profit Director May Maintain Derivative Action The California Supreme Court sets new precedent that unlike for-profit corporations, a former non-profit director may maintain a derivative lawsuit.  The decision increases the likelihood that decisions of boards of non-profits will be subject to judicial review. In corporate ..read more

Because a significant part of my practice involves evaluating the "fit" of a nonprofit CEO when a board thinks there may be a problem, I thought I would share the following to help those who serve on boards consider the whole picture when such an event arises.   BOARD PERFORMANCE & METRICS The Touchy Subject of CEO Dismissal READ TIME: 6 MINUTES Firing the CEO can be one of the most difficult decisions a board can make – it will also be among the most critical. However, many boards, including those of non-profit organisations, will resist bringing up the need to fire their CEO ..read more