The Little Book of Boards

A Board Member's Handbook for Small (and Very Small) Nonprofits

By: Erik Hanberg

Narrated by: Erik Hanberg

Length: 5 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Are you new to a board and have no idea what's expected of you? Do you know what a board's six key responsibilities are? Do you know what your relationship with the Executive Director should be? If not, this book is for you.

So many board members - especially of small nonprofits - want to support a nonprofit and readily accept the invitation to join the board. It's only then that they discover they are in over their heads, with no idea of their expectations and responsibilities. The Little Book of Boards is here to throw that drowning board member a rope.

Told with a conversational style, this book will lead you through the basics of being on a board, how meetings work, and what's expected between meetings. In addition, at the back of the book are several in-depth resources for understanding Roberts Rules of Order, bylaws, committee structures, board leadership, and much more. Perfect for any new board member - or for an entire board that is feeling lost - this book and its common sense approach will serve you every year you are on the board.

©2015 Erik Hanberg (P)2015 Erik Hanberg

Should be mandatory reading

Such a great, short little book. As a first time nonprofit Executive Director, I found it incredibly helpful and reassuring in understanding the division of labor between the board and myself - or at least in how it should work.

A listen for every big or small board member

Anyone considering starting a non-profit organization should read this book and give it to every potential Board member. If the Board is hiring an Executive Officer they should read it too. An Executive Officer has two jobs; 1. Running the day-to-day operation of the non-profit and 2. knowing how to work with a Board of Directors. Not easy, but it can be done if the Board and the Executive Officer work together as one, with common goals.

Very helpful intro to boards

This is a very helpful book on jump starting your understanding of joining a board. It would be very helpful for the entire board to create a common language.

The book lends itself nicely to the audible format!

Informative

This book was super informative and it gave me a lot of action items to get started!

solid book

Good book for 1st timer board members or long timers as a reminder how to run a better board.

Loved this book!

I loved all the practical advice! This book was really helpful in getting me to understand how a functional board should operate.

Excellent

This is an excellent resource for anyone who is new to a board or considering a board officer position. I highly recommend!

On a Board? GET THIS!

This book breaks down almost every detail of how to create, manage, hand off and participate on a board. It’s for Non Profits but I see any type of board using these tools. Must have for anybody on a board.

If you only get one, this is it

Where does The Little Book of Boards rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Absolutely great. I will take away lots of information from this book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Little Book of Boards?

The ideas around what a nonprofit board's most important contributions are.

Which character – as performed by Erik Hanberg – was your favorite?

Not applicable.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

It is nonfiction so not applicable.

Any additional comments?

Just starting board service, or a longtime board member, doesn't matter. You will learn the basics right here. Lots of ideas about governance, working through difficulties, etc. Can't recommend enough.

Useful and practical guidance

Very helpful overview of issues you may face as a (new) board member. Well structured and supported by good practical examples. Whilst Erik describes his experiences in America he does it in such manner it can easily be replicated in other countries.