Board members and what they do
Governing bodies are known by a variety of names including boards, committees, councils, trusts,…
Board member roles and responsibilities
Clear understanding of roles and responsibilities is essential for a board to function effectively.
When each board member knows their own role and understands the roles of others, it fosters better collaboration, reduces misunderstandings, and strengthens governance.
Imagine a board where every member is confident in their duties, working together seamlessly to drive the organisation forward. This webpage hosts tools and resources to give you and your board that clarity.
Scroll down to access essential help sheets, tools, checklists, policies, books and advice guides designed to enhance your meeting experience.
Top tools and resources
Overview of your board responsibilities
Because all not-for-profit organisations serve different community needs, their boards and the…
Tips for the chair
Being a good chair requires not taking over the meeting, but facilitating discussion. This means…
How to be the best secretary
Nobody is perfect, but follow these top 10 tips to go from being just another good secretary to…
Help sheets
Overview of your legal responsiblities
Many people approach their role on not-for-profit board more casually than they would a position on…
Preparing a budget
A budget is a way of thinking ahead financially. Accounting looks backward, at what income you have…
Members Only
Reducing the chances of board burnout
Not-for-profit and community boards should be at the forefront of any action or initiatives…
Template: Artificial Intelligence and Governance framework
An AI governance framework can guide the board’s response to the opportunities and risks that come…
Ten questions a board member should ask about risk management
Being a board member of a not-for-profit (NFP) organisation involves being accountable for the…
Ten questions every board director needs to ask about climate change
Climate change is real and dangerous. It has been caused by human activity and thus demands radical…
Ten questions every board director needs to ask about cyber security
Not-for-profits routinely collect highly sensitive personal information, including information on…
Ten questions every board director needs to ask about diversity
In simple terms, "diversity" refers to the degree to which an organisation’s board, staff,…
Tools
Appointment of Proxy Form Template
Download our template form to help you document proxies for your board meetings.
Board composition checklist
If your board can no longer provide leadership or fresh ideas, or if money is becoming an issue, it…
Board skills and experience matrix
Welcome to the ICDA Board diversity, experience and skills matrix.
CEO annual review template
The board needs to regularly review the performance of their CEO to ensure that they are meeting…
Checklists
Members Only
10 key areas to renew, review and refresh
It's easy to carry on doing the same thing 'because that's the way we do it'. To avoid the pitfalls…
For and against setting up committees
ForCommittees can make better use of board members' time, allowing certain tasks, issues or…
Successful board succession
The process of finding, recruiting, selecting and installing new board members is perhaps the most…
Members Only
Ten ways to write a 'perfect' constitution
Alright, the "perfect" constitution might be a bad case of hyperbole, but if your constitution…
Policies
Members Only
Staff Conflict of Interest Policy
All organisations should have a staff conflict of interest policy. This policy should provide a…
