Rules

Sample bylaws for a nonprofit with membership.

Sample bylaws for a nonprofit with a self-renewing board of directors.

Adapt from these sample bylaws only for organizations without members.

You find an abundance of advice for nonprofit boards and executive directors about the advantages of "partnership" and "open communications." But sometimes that advice just isn’t enough.

Who's the boss? The board or executive director/CEO? The answer: It depends on whether the board is acting as a body, or whether board members are acting as individuals. The key is remembering that the board is different from board members.

Has your board asked itself: What does it say in the bylaws? Does anyone have a copy of the bylaws? I know I got one when I started on the board but...Here's an idea from Blue Avocado's Board Cafe: a Bylaws Cheat Sheet. 

Some assumptions about nonprofits are like urban legends. Like the legendary alligators in New York City sewers, these stories have gained credibility through their longevity. Let’s debunk some such myths: 1 Nonprofits can’t make a profit. The IRS guidelines clearly state that profits can’t be distributed to nonprofit board members (as corporate profits are to shareholders), but they don’t say that nonprofits can’t have profits.

An ages-old artform, storytelling is a powerful way to capture your audience's attention, whether they're donors, potential donors, grantmakers, media, policymakers, or prospective volunteers. Communications consultant, trainer, and speaker Andy Goodman offers ten "laws," or must-haves for good storytelling.