Board Member Orientation: The Concise and Complete Guide to Nonprofit Board Service

Description:

Finally! Board member orientation is truly simplified.

Serving on a nonprofit board can be an incredibly rewarding experience for the properly prepared board member. This book is for the generous and busy people who agree to give of their time and talents by serving on nonprofit boards. Nonprofit boards often fail to do a good job of board member orientation for a variety of reasons. It takes a significant amount of time and effort to plan and conduct quality board member orientation programs, and every time a new board member arrives, it’s time to do it again! Because of the challenges associated with providing quality board member orientation, many nonprofit organizations do not do it at all, leaving their board members to wing it. This book provides help and support to the truly great men and women serving on nonprofit boards whose service makes a positive difference in the lives of countless people every day.

A One-Hour Read
This book is a concise and appropriately comprehensive guide to nonprofit board service designed especially for new board members. It is a quick read, (about one hour), yet it addresses with accuracy the most significant elements of board service, such as mission, responsibility, duty, risk, liability, and board meeting dynamics.

Hooey Alerts!
Watch for Hooey Alerts! where the author identifies and dispels common myths and legends about nonprofit board service. There are many sources of false or misleading information about the nonprofit board service environment. A perfect example is the often vaguely-worded and intimidating assertion or implication that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act passed by Congress in 2002 applies to nonprofit organizations in a manner similar to how it applies to publicly-traded companies. (It does not.)

Board Member Orientation in a Simple 3-Step Process
The Simple Board Member Orientation Process Using This Book:

1. Your board members read Chapters 1-9 of the book, which will provide them with insights regarding the key elements of nonprofit board service.
2. You provide the board members with copies of the documents described in Chapter 10 related to your organization.
3. You meet with your board members to discuss the unique attributes of your organization following the discussion questions provided in Chapter 10.

Done!

Editorial Reviews:

This book is the perfect guide for every nonprofit board member! Loaded with wisdom, it’s a must read that will take board members to the next level of successful board governance.
 
J. Todd Chasteen, General Counsel
Samaritan’s Purse

Mike Batts has put his quarter century of advising and serving on nonprofit boards to good use in this accurate and easy-to-read book.
 
Chuck Hartman, Associate Professor of Business & Law
Cedarville University

This book is exactly what a busy volunteer board member needs. It is perfect for board member orientation and for quick reference reminders for the experienced board member.
 
Doug Starcher, Attorney
Partner
Broad & Cassel

This book provides clear, no-nonsense guidance on the basic issues for new nonprofit board members. Using it will ensure your organization has communicated fundamental governance issues.
 
Dan Busby, President
ECFA

About the Author:

Michael Batts has extensive and long-term experience serving and advising nonprofit organizations on matters related to board governance, financial oversight, financial operations, financial reporting, tax compliance and strategy, corporate structure, international activities, and related issues.

Mike’s calling and life’s work is to help and serve organizations that make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of people.

Mike is the president and managing partner of Batts Morrison Wales & Lee, a national CPA firm headquartered in Orlando, Florida, dedicated exclusively to serving nonprofit organizations and their affiliates across the United States. He is a national speaker and author on matters related to the nonprofit sector. Mike actively engages in federal and state nonprofit legislative matters. He served on the Legal Framework Workgroup of the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, a legislative advisory panel formed at the request of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman. He is a former member and chairman of the board of ECFA, a national organization that accredits religious nonprofit organizations in the areas of board governance and financial integrity. Mike also served as chairman of the Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations, a national commission convened to address accountability and federal policy issues related to religious and other nonprofit organizations. Leaders from a cross-section of U.S. nonprofit organizations, including leaders from every major faith group in America, participated in the Commission’s work over a three-year period. The Commission issued two reports as a result of its work – available at www.religiouspolicycommission.org. Mike has been inducted into the Hall of Fame by The Church Network (formerly the National Association of Church Business Administration) for his significant contributions to the church community.