Two recent articles by Stephen Donshik have crystallized why board members need to stay objective.

1. Bylaws sometimes allow for board members to receive remuneration for attending meetings.  Payments of any amount, however, erase the status of “volunteer,” essentially, destroying what the organization was hoping to achieve when it recruited this individual.  
2. Additionally, a board member can potentially win contracts from the organization in which he serves. However, this person is then tasked with critiquing his own work, a near-impossibility.

Even with the best of intentions, losing objectivity weakens the board’s ability to accomplish its primary task of governance.

Tizku Lemitzvot,

Shuey

EXPRESSDEPOSIT’s are a new feature to the site, offering 100 WORDS OR LESS on funding, finance, trends, and best practices relating to Israel’s global nonprofit sector.

Photo courtesy of Huskyte77 (Flickr)

Links to the articles I’ve reviewed and posted to Twitter between May 23 – May 29, 2011.  This week’s topics include:  Israel & Jewish  •  Starting a Nonprofit  •  Governance & Strategy  •  Fundraising & Marketing  •  Social Media & Internet  •  Resources

You can stay up-to-date with these articles and more by following me on Twitter or subscribing to receive The Nonprofit Banker by email.

Tizku Lemitzvot,

Shuey
@nonprofitbanker

ISRAEL & JEWISH

View newly ratified Code of Ethics of Israel Assn of Prof. Fundraisers (a.k.a. IAPFIsrael). We’re joining the big boys! via eJPhil

Nicely put >> eJPhil: Professional Fundraising in Israel Comes of Age http://ow.ly/1t7N1J

Interesting analysis on the changing nature of Jewish global giving, by Stephen Donshik http://ow.ly/52Zgb on eJPhil

STARTING A NONPROFIT

Nonprofitlawyer: How to Answer the Call to Charity w/o Starting a Nonprofit, on FCAtlanta http://ow.ly/55xEI

Wow, recommendations how lawyers can actually be helpful! >> Alternatives to Forming a Nonprofit Org in the USA, by GTak & Nonprofitlawyer http://ow.ly/55xH5

STRATEGY & GOVERNANCE

Charitylawyer: Quick Tips for Setting Nonprofit Executive Compensation http://ow.ly/1t9ebI

On the money! HildyGottlieb: My faves: 3, 4 & 5 >> Charitylawyer: 6 Smart Moves Great Board Chairs Make http://ow.ly/1tcMzX

Can Glee teach us how to be better Board Members for our nonprofit orgs? by GTak http://ow.ly/55cx3

FUNDRAISING & MARKETING

Vital >> Sharing Donor Lists: Can U Trust a Fundraising Consultant? by Stephen Donshik http://ow.ly/1tj057 on eJPhil

How connecting your nonprofit & the donor to the community can increase fundraising http://ow.ly/52Zym

Planning your next fundraiser? “Why You Should Ditch Your Next Event” by GailPerrync http://ow.ly/530jH

NonProfitBanker: Is Paypal the Best Option for International Fundraising http://ow.ly/1tdwrk

FundraisingNews: Do Your Donors Call You? http://ow.ly/1te4Yf

SOCIAL MEDIA & INTERNET

Is this 1st step to universal/concrete social media measurement? >> Measuring Online Engagement: A Beginning, by Askdebra http://ow.ly/1t7Nhm

Should your nonprofit think about starting a blog? (lots of good resource links) in Wild Apricot http://ow.ly/1thTty

Case study >> Making the Most of Facebook Groups: NATAL, by Askdebra http://ow.ly/1tj0B0

RESOURCES

FundraisingNews: Reading list: Great books for nonprofit marketing sector, by KatyaN4G http://ow.ly/1t9ec2