We love to connect our members with information and resources that encourage good leadership and effective governance. So we keep our eyes open for helpful books and articles that contribute to that goal.

One of our favorite sources for great resources is BoardSource, an organization dedicated to educating nonprofit leaders on the roles and responsibilities of boards. We periodically recommend their books and have purchased quite a few for our Resource Library.

A few BoardSource resources that we use and recommend most often: 

• The Committee Series. The series includes short volumes on the Governance, Executive, Financial, and Development Committees, as well as Advisory Councils and Transforming Board Structure: Strategies for Committees and Task Forces. You can purchase the set, or buy each volume individually. 
• The Board Building Cycle. This book is helpful in assessing where your board is currently, and the steps to take to bring it to the next level. We've been using this one in work with our own board this year.
• Better Bylaws: Creating Effective Rules for Your Nonprofit Board. Bylaw revision has been one of the most popular topics fielded by our Resource Consultants lately. This book provides a good baseline when working on your bylaws.

And others that we have recently recommended:

• Breaking the Gala Addiction. Recommended in the Summer 2015 In Trust article "Nourish Friends, Raise Funds."
• The Nonprofit Board Answer Book. Recommended in In Trust's The Board’s Responsibility for Evaluating the President.
• Financial Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards. Recommended in the Spring 2012 In Trust article "Basic Financial Vocabulary for Board Members."

Would you like to discuss these or other resources that might be right for you ? Contact our Resource Consultants at 302-654-7770 or resources@intrust.org. 

Resource Consulting is a free service for members of the In Trust Center, in which our knowledgeable team connects you with the resources you need to achieve your mission. There is no question too simple, or too complex.