Whether you’ve just been asked to join the board of a nonprofit organization that is near and dear to your heart or you’re a long-term board member of an independent school that you attended, it’s important to make sure you’re ready to contribute in a meaningful way and to follow the best practices of good governance for the long-term health and success of the organization.  

Let’s talk about 10 important rules to follow to make sure you’re advancing the organization and being the best board member you can be.  

1. Nonprofit boards are stewards of the organization. They employ a CEO or director to handle the day-to-day operations. Other than the board chair, who may know more about staff operations because of his or her regular communication with the CEO, board members should not give instructions to employees or meddle in the regular operations that are being overseen by the hired leadership of the organization. 
2. Understand the mission and vision and make decisions that further the strategic plan. Nonprofit boards are committed to their mission and define their vision and broader principles within the mission. It’s their North Star for decision-making.  
3. Stay up to date on trends affecting the mission of an organization. Use financial data, volunteer surveys and self-evaluations to measure success. Understand who you are but be open to new ideas and approaches. What you’ve always done may not accomplish your goals going forward.  
4. Be deliberate about board recruitment. Most nonprofit boards are self-perpetuating. Use committees and volunteer opportunities to assess future board members. Know how potential board members will perform on the board and make sure they understand their commitment before agreeing to serve. A board should have term limits for members, with flexibility to renew the term of some members who might be performing a particular task or have a specific skill, but rotating in new members allows fresh ideas and diversity of experience and thought. 
5. Plan for leadership succession. The board hires and, if necessary, fires the leader of the organization. Employees find new opportunities all the time, and the board should be prepared for a transition by having a succession plan in place that would include a plan for an interim leader if necessary and how a search committee would be formed. If someone within the organization shows potential to eventually move up and lead, that employee should be cultivated so he or she is ready to assume leadership.  
6. Boards should be structured to operate in an efficient manner. How often should the board meet? How much of the work of the board can be handled in committees? Board meetings should not be just reports from staff. If you serve on a committee, be an active participant of that committee.  
7. Boards should conduct new board member orientations each year and have ongoing training for all board members to make sure everyone understands his or her role and is striving to maintain good governance for the organization. Board members should make every effort to attend these sessions.  
8. Give financially to your organization. One hundred percent of board members should be giving to a capital campaign or annual fund. Also, if you are serving on a board, it should be one of your top three philanthropic gifts each year. 
9. Be an ambassador for your organization, promoting its mission and creating enthusiasm for its work. Be present at events and board meetings.  
10. Finally, confidentiality is key. From time to time, confidential matters are discussed at board meetings. As tempting as it might be to share something that is not yet public with just one person who would find it interesting, a board member can sabotage an organization and erode trust among other board members by not being discreet. This rule applies to sharing confidential information with your spouse as well. 

Joining the board of a nonprofit organization is an honor and carries great responsibility. Your time and financial resources are precious. Understanding your commitment and how to be a great board member ensures that you feel like your commitment to serving on a board gives you a sense of purpose as well as the satisfaction that you are making a difference for something that you care about.