Other Information Sources on Policy Governance
There are many resources related to nonprofit boards and their functioning. Many address governance in some manner. But I have found it difficult to find sources of good and practical information on the policy governance model. Here are some of the policy governance resources I have found to be useful.
Books
Boards that Make a Difference by John Carver. This is the book that started it all. It is in its third printing. I have read it several times and refer to it often. It is worth reading to understand the concepts behind policy governance.
Good Governance for Nonprofits. This book by Fredric Laughlin and Robert Andringa and published by the American Management Association is readable and practical. It provides a thorough treatment of board governance responsibilities and how to meet them. Much of the structure and approach presented in the book parallels the work of John Carver who is acknowledged at the beginning of the book. There are some real world examples and a link to part of the AMA website that provides some helpful supporting documents and templates.
Websites
Govern for Impact. This site, formally known as the International Policy Governance Association, has some free information on policy governance.
BoardSource. This is a membership organization that is a widely recognized source of good board governance information. They provide resources and training on a wide variety of board topics.
Articles
Videos from other sources
Nonprofit Board Governance – Passion is not Enough. This is a TED talk by Chris Grundner from the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement. He talks about the basic requirement for being an effective board member. He emphasizes that passion for the mission is not enough.
