What Volunteer Board Members should know
Guest post from Karen Oliver, the Senior Director of Community Resources at United Way of the Midlands
I love it when organizations I respect agree with me. That is the case with the Council on Foundations.
Did you know that “Whether or not you receive compensation as a board member or trustee, you can be held personally liable for the actions or inactions of the organization.” Even if there are protections available from state or federal statues, board members are pretty vulnerable without directors and officers insurance. Laws may provide immunity, but proving that immunity and good faith effort can be expensive. I wouldn’t join a board unless I was sure the organization had “D & O.”
Blueprint for Leadership is a program that discusses not only board responsibilities but also risk management. It helps folks develop the questions they want answered BEFORE they join a board. Check out the program, and check out this article about other warnings for volunteer board members that Blueprint will address. We’re meeting the new recruits next week!
