The role of a non-profit board is to oversee and work with the CEO with the operational and financial functions of the organization. They essentially make sure the organization has enough resources for it to fulfill its mission. Board members are also stakeholders who have legal powers, they could potentially sue the institution. I think Boards are important to the health of a non-profit in today’s day and age because the core values of the non-profit world has not change. Time has changed but that does not mean the meaning of social good has changed. Non-profits need the board to oversee them because an executive director is the captain of the ship, but captains are also humans who need direction, reassurance, and advice. Board members come from all walks of life and therefore have insight and connections that are helpful for the organization. 

Governance and leadership are not entirely two different things. Governance “is how boards of directors and executives work together to ensure the success of their organization” (Fisman, Khurana, & Martenson, 2009). Governance is having a bird’s eyes view of the organization and how it could become better. Leadership is derived from governance. It is due to governance leaders receive their responsibilities. Leaders also give importance to the mission of the organization just like the board members and executives do, and bring the mission into reality. Furthermore, I think people who are governing such as board members should be engage leaders more. Leaders are out in the field handling the functions and operations of the organization, and therefore will be able to provide a lot of pertinent information for the governing body. Leaders should be able to trust and understand the governing body, and vice versa. This is when an organization will be able prosper and become better than it already is or improve.

What it means to be a good leader is to be able to not give up due to positional or monetary resources. Good To Great and the Social Sectors discusses how Wendy Kopp, CEO of Teach for All did not have anything before starting her organization. She started from the ground with a vision of recruiting high-achieving college graduates to teach in underserved communities. She did not lack of monetary and human resources stop her from working on her dream. A good leader does not let things phase his or her vision, but rather works with others, including staff and Board members to find solutions. The CEO and Board should share leadership of the organization by sharing the same goal/mission, having frequent and valuable communication all across, making decisions based on the good of the organization and not for political agendas, and by placing trust in each other.