The Nonprofit
Board Guide
A Practical Guide & Toolkit for Governance, Strategy, and Board Leadership
Give your board more than information—give it tools to lead effectively. The Nonprofit Board Guide pairs clear, practical guidance with ready-to-use worksheets, templates, and checklists to help small and start-up nonprofits turn board responsibilities into action. Clarify roles, strengthen financial oversight, make purposeful decisions, and build shared responsibility for resource development—so your board can move your mission forward with confidence.
Every Section Pairs Guidance With Ready-to-Use Tools
Worksheets, checklists, self-assessments, and dashboards your board can use right away—not just read about.
A LOOK INSIDE
A LOOK INSIDE
BUILT TO ACTUALLY RUN YOUR BOARD, NOT JUST EXPLAIN IT
CHAPTER 1 OPENS
SYSTEM
DASHBOARD
TEMPLATE
Board Governance—where every board's foundation gets built.
The Board Governance System—nine components, one operating system
The Risk Management Dashboard—see exactly where you're exposed
The Annual Board Member Agreement—a recommitment page every member signs, every year.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are these books for?
They are designed for small and start-up nonprofit boards, board chairs, and executive directors who want clear guidance and practical tools to strengthen their organizations. Established boards can also use the books to address gaps and improve how they govern.
What makes these books different?
These books help you move from understanding your responsibilities to putting them into practice. Worksheets, templates, and checklists give your board a practical starting point for building stronger systems, making informed decisions, and following through.
Do we need prior board experience?
No. The books explain board responsibilities in clear, accessible language, making them useful for new members as well as experienced leaders seeking a more consistent approach.
How can our board use these books ?
Start with a challenge your board wants to solve—unclear roles, unproductive meetings, fundraising uncertainty, or financial oversight. Use the relevant guidance and tools to work through the issue together, agree on next steps, and assign responsibility. You can focus on one topic during a board meeting, use several tools at a retreat, or incorporate the books into new-member orientation. The goal is to turn what your board learns into practices that strengthen your organization.
Contact
Cindy Hooker
chooker@anchorpointboardconsulting.com
(406) 897-3343
