Nonprofit boards have many responsibilities. Top among these is overseeing a healthy internal culture within the organization. While a board may have limited exposure to day-to-day operations, it needs to ensure that management is articulating the nonprofit’s values and cultivating culture at every level.
This aspect of board responsibility is part of what I call “the tone at the top.” The board and management’s tone at the top must show respect for every employee’s strengths and contributions, and their personal health, comfort, and safety.
Board members need to align themselves with all of the values of the organization. As just one example, when board members behave courteously and respectfully toward each other and toward management, they set an example that all staff can emulate.
- How can your board ensure that the chief executive is cultivating a healthy culture, aligned with the nonprofit’s values?
- How well does your board’s culture align with the organization’s broader culture and values? This is the concluding post in my 4-part series looking at organizational culture. You may wish to revisit part 1, part 2 and part 3.