This Compasspoint article examines why boards only seem to govern during crises and suggests ways to strengthen governance.
Using independent sources and evaluators, making governance and debate an explicit part of board meetings, and recruiting good governors, not just good supporters, all are part of what it takes to ensure a nonprofit's governance habits never reach the crisis point.
Written by former independent consultant Mike Allison and Jan Masaoka, editor of Board Café and soon-to-launch Blue Avocado, it was originally printed in the Board Café newsletter and republished in The Grassroots Fundraising Journal.