Supporting Accountability and Compliance While Nurturing Creativity: A Nonprofit Board Governance Challenge

Abstract

This paper presents a model for nonprofit board structure that supports the responsibilities of accountability and creativity that challenge board member governance. Undo focus on required accountability can encourage the development of risk-adverse boards that fail to respond to the innovation needed to solve mission-centric social problems and that fail to keep pace with an ever-changing fiscal environment. Thus, this paper identifies components of a board structure model that enhances nonprofit board functionality in the current environment. This proposal includes scholarly support for the model, and suggestions and a call for further discussion aimed at the use and adaptation of the model in practice and in the classroom. Subscribe to JNEL