Sample Board Agreement - Customizable

A board agreement is powerful. It may be the most powerful tool a board or executive director uses to develop board leadership. Board members should sign a board agreement at the beginning of every year or term. Download the nonprofit board of directors contract template I use with my own clients.

A nonprofit board agreement is like a small informal contract (or pledge) that each board member and the organization’s board in return, will behave according to expectations.

Three key parts of board membership is the recruiting, retaining, and removing of board members. Board agreements help with all three. Each time you engage someone about possibly serving on the board, you can show them the board agreement so they are clear about what board service entails, with no surprises. Board agreements help to retain board members because they appreciate transparency, clarity, and honesty in spelling things out.

When it is time for a board member to leave because they are not honoring their obligations, this becomes much easier because the board member need only be reminded of the agreement. This improves board function and board performance. You will experience less drama, more consistency, and better outcomes.

I created this nonprofit board member agreement sample from my own frustrations that board members didn’t have accountability tools. As an executive director, I always felt like I was having to chase down board members to do their job.

The board of directors agreement sample requires each board member, to have strong meeting attendance, that they personally donate, that they personally fundraise, that they will work to avoid conflicts of interest, and that they will remain engaged and do what is needed. and asked of the board. In return, the organization promises to provide director and officer liability insurance, to be transparent with the financials, and to make staff available to the board when appropriate.

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