The Handbook of Nonprofit Governance -- CONTENTS -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- INTRODUCTION -- PART ONE: GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES, ROLES, AND STRUCTURE -- CHAPTER 1: IN THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE: INTRODUCTION TO THE NONPROFIT WORLD -- An Overview of the Nonprofit Sector -- Monitoring, Regulating, and Governing Nonprofits -- Starting a Nonprofit Organization -- Incorporation and Tax Exemption -- Special Types of Nonprofit Organizations -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 2: WHAT IS GOVERNANCE ? -- Governance Defined -- Why Nonprofits Need Boards -- Board Members as Fiduciaries -- Collective and Shared Responsibilities -- Mission at the Center -- Characteristics of Exceptional Governance -- Governance Through the Organizational Life Cycle -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 3: GOVERNANCE ROLES -- Board Roles -- Individual Roles -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 4: GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE -- Board Size -- Committees and Task Forces -- Essential Standing Committees -- Other Work Groups -- Advisory Councils -- Membership Organization Boards -- National Boards of Federated Systems -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 5: THE BOARD-CHIEF EXECUTIVE RELATIONSHIP -- The Board Chair and the Chief Executive -- The Chief Executive and the Board -- Chapter Exercises -- PART TWO: GOVERNANCE PRACTICES -- CHAPTER 6: BUILDING A BOARD -- The Governance Committee -- Step 1: Identify the Board's Needs -- Step 2: Cultivate Relationships -- Step 3: Recruit Prospective Board Members -- Step 4: Orient New Board Members -- Step 5: Support Continuous Board Involvement -- Step 6: Educate the Board -- Step 7: Evaluate the Board -- Step 8: Rotate Board Members -- Step 9: Appreciate Efforts and Celebrate Achievements -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 7: LEGAL AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES -- Fulfilling Fiduciary Responsibilities -- Collective and Shared Responsibilities -- Duties of Care, Loyalty, and Obedience.

Legal and Ethical Compliance -- Getting Sound Advice -- A Legal Liability Checklist -- Being Accountable to the Public Trust -- Protecting the Board from Intermediate Sanctions -- Private Benefit and Private Inurement -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 8: FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT -- What Board Members Need to Know -- Financial Issues for Board Members -- Major Financial Roles -- Systems That Protect Nonprofit Organizations -- Financial Statements and Reports -- Signs of Financial Distress -- Finance and Investment Policies -- Financial Direction in Uncertain Times -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 9: FUNDRAISING -- The First Step: A Commitment to Personal Giving -- Board-Staff Partnership -- The Fundraising Process -- Types of Fundraising -- Developing Board Members' Fundraising Skills -- Fundraising Policies -- Evaluating Fundraising Performance -- Beyond Fundraising: Earned Revenue -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 10: STRATEGIC THINKING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING -- About Strategic Thinking -- Getting Started -- About Strategic Planning -- Overcoming Resistance to Strategic Planning -- Why Strategic Planning Is Important -- Building Evaluation into the Strategic Plan -- Approaches to Planning -- Roles in Strategic Planning -- The Planning Process -- Leading Toward the Future -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 11: COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH -- Who Is Involved, and How -- Internal Communications -- Engaging Board Members in Communications and Outreach -- Facilitating Collaborations and Partnerships -- Positioning the Organization -- Lobbying and Political Activity -- Crisis Communications -- Monitoring Effectiveness -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 12: SUCCESSION PLANNING AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE TRANSITION -- About Succession Planning -- Developing a Compensation Policy -- Chief Executive Transition -- Steps in the Transition -- Working with Consultants.

Acting and Interim Chief Executives -- Conducting the Search -- Launching the New Chief Executive -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 13: EVALUATION -- Evaluating Organizational Effectiveness -- Program Evaluation Strategies -- Board Self-Assessment -- Individual Board Member Self-Assessment -- Evaluating the Chief Executive's Performance -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 14: BYLAWS AND POLICIES -- The Context for Bylaws and Policies -- Creating and Amending Bylaws -- What Bylaws Include -- About Policies -- Types of Policies -- Policy Guidance -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 15: BOARD MEETINGS -- Planning the Meeting -- Meeting Communication and Documentation -- Meeting Structure, Decision Making, and Voting -- Executive Sessions -- Evaluating the Meeting -- Board Retreats -- Toward Better Board Meetings -- Chapter Exercises -- CHAPTER 16: BOARD DYNAMICS -- Building Trust -- Developing a Culture of Inquiry -- Independent-Mindedness -- Boards That Micromanage -- Disruptive Board Members -- Chapter Exercises -- APPENDIX: SAMPLE POLICIES FOR NONPROFIT BOARDS -- Board Member Fundraising -- Human Resources -- Code of Ethics -- Conflict of Interest -- Confidentiality -- Whistle-Blower Protection -- Record Retention and Document Destruction -- Executive Compensation -- Investments -- Financial Audits -- Risk Management -- Media Relations -- GLOSSARY -- RESOURCES -- INDEX.