Policy Central: Board Meetings, Board Job Descriptions, and Rotation Policies
Boards that anticipate and plan for potential bumps in the road are far more likely to avoid difficult situations than those who create policies while in the middle of crisis. Included here are conflict of interest policies, board position descriptions, election and rotation policies, and much more.
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Allocation of Board and Staff Responsibilities
- Board and Staff Job Descriptions (Leighty Fdn, 2013)
- Allocation of staff and board responsibilities (Anonymous, 2012)
Board Chair Position Descriptions
- Board Chair Job Description (Brinson, 2023)
- Board Chair Job Description (AVDF, 2017)
- Ten essential responsibilities of foundation board chairs (BoardSource, 2017)
- Board Officer Roles and Responsibilities (Glenn FF, 2014)
- Board Chair Position Description (NCFP, 2002)
Board Composition Analysis Worksheet
Board Decision-making Frameworks
- Collaborative Decision Making Framework (Rainin, 2023)
- Demystifying Decision Making (NCFP, 2021)
- Fist to Five Voting and Consensus
- Alternatives to Robert's Rules of Order
Board Election, Classification, and Rotation Policies
- Foundation Governance and Leadership Structure (Bainum, 2021)
- Board Election, Rotation, and Membership Terms (Nord Family Foundation, 2005)
- Members Classification (Packard Foundation, 2004)
- Board of Trustees Classification (Packard Foundation, 2004)
Board Eligibility Criteria and Guidelines for Board Membership
- Trustee Job Description and Desirable Characteristics (Dobbs Foundation, 2017)
- Board Qualifications (AVDF, 2017)
- Board Selection Criteria (LWFF, 2016)
- Director Agreement (Anonymous, 2014)
- Guidelines for Board Membership (The Leighty Foundation, 2010)
- Board Practices and Standards (Dyson Foundation, 2009)
Board Meeting and Retreat Agendas
- Meetings Matter (NCFP, 2021)
- Principled Planning A Guide for Family Foundation Retreats (COF, 2006)
- Reinvigorating Your Family Meetings (WNJ, 2017)
- Board Meeting Agenda (Russell Family Foundation)
- Board Meeting Ground Rules (Claneil Foundation, 2023)
- Ground Rules for Family Retreat Working Sessions
- Board Decision Making Process (Woodcock Foundation, 2023)
Board and Committee Meeting Calendar
Board Meeting Evaluation and Feedback Surveys
- Sample Family Foundation Board Meeting Feedback (Beker Foundation, 2021)
- Board Meeting Evaluation Form (JF Maddox, 2020)
Board Member Attendance Policies
Board Member Orientation Manuals and Agendas
- Board of Directors Handbook (Morgan FF, 2023)
- Board Orientation Guidebook TOC (Glenn FF, 2014)
- Board Orientation Outline (Anonymous, 2012)
- Board Orientation Manual (GMA, 2009)
- Board Policy and Procedures Manual (William Bingham Foundation, 2005)
Board Member Position Descriptions, Roles, and Responsibilities
- Independent Trustee (Nathan Cummings Foundation, 2023)
- Board Member Job Description (Needmor Fund 2021)
- Ten Responsibilities of Boards (Needmor Fund, 2021)
- Board Roles and Responsibilities (Bainum, 2021)
- Director Expectations (Brinson Foundation, 2018)
- Trustee Job Description and Desirable Characteristics (Dobbs Foundation, 2017)
- Trustee Responsibilities (AVDF, 2017)
- Board Roles and Operating Guidelines (The Needmor Fund, 2012)
- Guidelines for Board Membership (Leighty Foundation, 2010)
- Board Roles and Responsibilities (The Stocker Foundation, 2010)
- Board Practices and Standards (Dyson Foundation, 2009)
- Board Expectations and Job Description (Morgan Family Foundation, 2004)
- Board and Officer Duties and Responbilities (William Bingham Foundation, 2003)
- Board Responsibilities Qualities of the Good Trustee (NCFP, 2002)
Board Self-evaluation and Self-assessment
- Board Self Assessment (Brinson Foundation, 2018)
- Board Member Self Assessment (Siragusa, 2015)
- McKinsey Board Assessment Tool
- Governance Self Assessment Worksheet
Code of Conduct
- Code of Conduct (Segal FF, 2022)
- Code of Conduct (RBF, 2016)
- Code of Conduct (Rockefeller Foundation, 2015)
- Code of Conduct (Anonymous, 2015)
- Code of Conduct (Dobbs Foundation, 2006)
- Code of Conduct (Packard Foundation, 2004)
Community and Independent (non-Family) Board Members
- Community Based Boards Position Description Recruitment (Tzedek Social Justice Fund, 2021)
- Interview Reflection Template (Hill Snowdon, 2021)
- Process for Selecting Nonfamily Trustees (Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, 2003)
- A Place at the Table Non Family Board Members (NCFP, 2011)
- Adding Nonfamily Trustees (NCFP Webinar Transcript, March 2013)
- Independent Trustee (Nathan Cummings Foundation, 2023)
- Independent Investment Committee (Nathan Cummings Fdn, 2020)
- Independent Board Member (Volgenau Fdn, 2020)
- Independent Board Member (Jessie Smith Noyes Fdn, 2019)
Community Board Members: Panta Rhea Foundation Recruitment Documents
- Board Recruitment Memo: Timeline and Criteria (Panta Rhea Foundation, 2020)
- Community Board Member Interest Form (Panta Rhea Fdn, 2020)
- Community Board Member Profile (Panta Rhea Fdn, 2020)
- Board Candidate Interview Questions (Panta Rhea Fdn, 2020)
Compensation Policy for Boards and Committees
Conflict of Interest Statements
- Conflicts of Interest IRS Sample Policy Annotated for Grantmakers (COF, 2010)
- Conflict of Interest Overview and Sample Policy (CMIF, 2013)
- Conflict of Interest (Morgan FF, 2023)
- Conflict of Interest Policy (George FF, 2022)
- Conflict of Interest (Kresge, 2019)
- Conflict of Interest Statement (Andrus Family Fund, 2011)
- Conflict of Interest Policy (Noyes Foundation, 2010)
- Conflict of Interest Policy (Leighty Foundation, 2010)
- Conflict of Interest Policy (Gates Foundation, 2008)
- Conflict of Interest Policy Sam L. Cohen Foundation (Sam L. Cohen Foundation, 2008)
- Conflict of interest (Annenberg Foundation)
- Conflict of Interest Policy (Packard Foundation, 2003)
- Conflict of Interest Policy (Nord Family Foundation, 2003)
- Conflict of Interest Policy (Self Family Foundation, 2002)
- Conflict of Interest Policy (Lumpkin Family Foundation, 1999)
- Conflict of Interest Policy (Durfee Foundation, 1999)
Discretionary and Matching Grants Policies
- Matching Grant Policy (Morgan FF, 2023)
- Board Discretionary Grants Policy (Bainum, 2021)
- Discretionary Grants Policies (GEO and NCFP, 2018)
- Discretionary Grants Policy (Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, 2003)
- Discretionary Grants Policy (Kinsman Foundation, 2002)
- Board Responsibilities for Discretionary Grants (NCFP, 2002)
- Tips and Advice on Discretionary Grants (NCFP, 2002)
- Discretionary Grants Policy (Council on Foundations, 2001)
- Discretionary Grants Policy (Healthcare Initiatives Foundation, 1999)
Diversity and Inclusiveness Statements
- Commitment to Diversity (Packard Foundation, 2017)
- Board Statement on Racial Equity (HRK Foundation, 2017)
- DEI Self Assessment (Sample, 2013)
- DEI Assessment (Consumer Health Fdn, 2016)
- Conversation on Diversity and Inclusive Practices (COF, 2010)
- Suggestions for Involving Others in the Family Foundation (NCFP, 2002)
- The Challenge of Diversity (Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, 2003)
- Statement of Inclusiveness (Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, 2002)
Ethics Codes
- Principles Workbook (Independent Sector, 2009)
- Code of Ethics (Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, 2004)
- Board of Trustees Code of Ethics (Homes A. and Mildred S. Scott Foundation, 2004)
- Ethics in Family Philanthropy (NCFP Webinar Deck, Novemeber 2011)
Exit Interviews for Board Members
Expense Reimbursement Policies
- Board Compensation and Travel (Morgan FF, 2023)
- Board Expense Reimbursement Policy (Bainum, 2021)
- Business Travel and Expense Reimbursement Policy (Anonymous, 2018)
- Reimbursement Policy (Sample, 2015)
- Travel Entertainment Policies and Reimbursement Form (MRBF, 2011)
- Expense & Mileage Reimbursement Form (Sample, 2016)
- Travel and Expense Reimbursement Policy (Light a Single Candle Foundation, 2015)
- Travel Reimbursement Policy (Osborne Foundation, 2015)