Updated Book on NFP Governance
20 October 2008 at 5:13 pm
Why do we need boards and management committees? How can board and committee members best contribute? And what risks are they exposed to? These questions are addressed in a newly revised edition of The Book of the Board and based on the Australian experience.
Authored by David Fishel, with contributions from a number of specialists in the Not for Profit field, the guide is a governance handbook for board members and senior executive officers of Australian Not for Profit organisations
The book, published by Federation Press, retains the overall structure of the first edition, but has been fully revised and updated to reflect developments in the Not for Profit environment.
The Book explains:
• the purpose of a board in a Not for Profit organisation
• the board’s formal and legal responsibilities
• the main areas where a board can add to the organisation’s effectiveness
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Some of the revisions include:
• A new Checklists section, containing ten quick-reference checklists on topics ranging from strategic planning and compliance through to board recruitment and succession planning
• All the interviews have been replaced with eight new interviews from Australian Not for Profit organisations in the fields of environment, sports, arts and youth development
• The topics covered in the original 17 chapters have been streamlined into 12 chapters
• A new chapter has been added on the subject of alliances and mergers in the Not for Profit field
• The Resources section has been overhauled, with seven Resources retained and updated, and eight new Resources added, covering governance charters, running a planning retreat, CEO appraisal and committee structures
• New charts and diagrams that provide a visual overview of key topics
• Gavin Nicholson, Louise Walsh and Judith James join Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes and Elizabeth Jameson among the contributors
The 2008 second edition has been extensively revised and updated. Its contents include:
• The job of the board
• Setting strategic direction
• Relationship with the CEO
• Purposeful meetings
• Chairing skills
• Risk management
• Legal responsibilities and compliance
• Financial planning and control
• The board and fundraising
• Measuring progress
• Non-profit alliances and mergers
• Recruitment and succession planning
The book also contains in-depth interviews with the Chairs and CEOs of four Australian non-profit; ten new action checklists for action, and a comprehensive Resources section.
To purchase a copy of The Book of the Board, go to http://www.positive-solutions.com.au/specialinitiatives/TheBookoftheBoard.aspx.
