As explained in the Foreword by John Carver, his wife Miriam and her co-author Charney have put together an approach for working with the Policy Governance Model, which is the model Carver developed and documented in his books Boards That Make a Difference and Reinventing the Board. This book explains the approach in a very short Part One, which occupies only 16 of the 282 pages. Most of the remaining pages (Part Two) are given to "rehearsal scenarios" of a proven problem-solving sequence that allows boards to find solutions consistent with the values and policies of their organizations. Designed to be flexible, the book's problem-solving methods are applicable to any challenge boards may face.
First published in 1990, John Carver's book points out shortcomings in the traditional approach to board governance and introduces his Policy Governance Model, now a widely used model around which he has built a considerable network of consultants and several other resources. This first book defines the problems and presents a new theory of governance. For more books and resources from Carver, go to his own Web site www.carvergovernance.com.
Thomas P. Holland (author) and David C. Hester (editor) (1999)
This in-depth handbook offers essential insights from respected veterans of religious and nonprofit work on governing an organization with a religious mission. Drawing on years of research, consulting, and hands-on religious nonprofit work, the authors offer basic navigation tools for nonprofit managers and trustees to define their roles and mission, transform hierarchical structures into models of collaborative leadership, and organize for greater impact. The editors have assembled articles from various writers, who address issues intended to put "theory into practice." This is one of the few books that focuses specifically on Christian organizations.
Based on interviews with trustees of various colleges in the U.S., this book shares their practical and tested experiences. Six dimensions of board performance are covered, from the ability to discern the culture and norms of the organization to the importance of being well informed about the roles, responsibilities, and performance of board members. The authors describe how a board can develop and maintain healthy relationships with key constituencies and how it shapes institutional direction.
This book makes the case for every board having all its on-going policies in one organized, evolving document called a Board Policies Manual. Narrative explanations show more than a hundred "best practices" for each section of a BPM. The book even provides a template and offers it in a free downloadable Word document through the AMA's Web site, www.amanet.org/books/downloads/good-gov-nonprofits/. Whether a board has a BPM of some type or is considering how to develop one, it would benefit from following the well-marked "road map" laid out in this book.
Unlike most books on good governance, Brown uses a fictional fable about a board and its leaders to demonstrate the real-life struggles most boards face. He creatively draws readers into the story, then unfolds seven disciplines that good boards eventually discover. A very enjoyable, and helpful, read.
This is a "handbook on governance," with 80 short chapters addressing all of the most asked questions about governance. It is useful for all chief executives and board members, with helpful "action steps" at the end of each chapter. The book is an expansion of the first Answer Book (expanded edition) co-authored by Bob Andringa and Ted Engstrom.
Collaboration of 9 experts published by BoardSource (2005)
BoardSource, the recognized leader in practical resources for board members of any nonprofit organization, convened several experts to attempt a concise statement of the essence of great governance. You can purchase this booklet or see a two-page summary of it by going to www.boardsource.org and typing "twelve principles" into their search box. A very useful summary that is used by many boards to stimulate self-reflection and planning.
If you have some specialized issues about governance not covered sufficiently in the above books, explore the 100+ resources available on this web site by BoardSource, America's most comprehensive library of resources focused solely on nonprofit governance matters.
