Misconceptions about Nonprofit Boards
I recently read a great article from my colleague Sarah Olivieri called “Top 5 Reasons Communication Breaks Down Between Boards and Executive Directors”. I’ll link it HERE.
Here’s why I’m still thinking about it…
In her first two points, Sarah outlines a few hard truths:
First: The Myth of Strategic vs. Operational Decisions
“One of the biggest misconceptions that causes communication breakdowns is the idea that boards should stick to strategic decisions while executive directors focus on day-to-day operations. The problem? There’s no clear line between the two.”
Sarah reminds us all that “the staff should make the decisions, including strategy decisions and the board should focus on providing oversight decisions the staff makes.”
☝️Read that line again.
But, what do I hear weekly?
“I’d really like to hire a [ X ] but the board said NO.”
“I’ll have to ask my board.”
“We’ll see if the board approves that line item in the budget.”
Leader - You don’t need to give your board that much power. Really.
It breaks my heart when leaders come to me ready and excited to learn about fundraising….they know they need my services….but somehow the permission to make the decision is taken away. “My board said no” is a phrase I just don’t get.
Sarah’s second point? Seeking Permission Instead of Providing Information
She reminds us that, “Executive directors should confidently inform their boards of decisions, providing transparency rather than seeking permission, so boards can focus on oversight rather than operational involvement.”
Executive Directors - Make the decisions you know you need to make to scale your organization. You know what to do. Gain objectivity and perspective from wise board members, but you don’t need to ask permission for every little thing.
Thanks for this wisdom and reminder, Sarah!
Whenever you’re ready, here are THREE things you can do next:
👣 Follow me on LinkedIn where I share insider info daily — the same lessons I teach my clients about attracting larger gen-ops dollars and diversifying revenue.
🍎 Grab FREE Guides + White Papers — download robust resources you can use to push against the sector’s misconceptions, equip your board, and shift your team into High-ROI fundraising.
📈 Work with me to diversify revenue & secure the gen-ops gifts you need to grow. If you’re a business-minded nonprofit CEO with big growth plans but need to make charitable revenue from investment-level donors a bigger part of your budget, you can apply to work with me here.
