What does it mean to be a volunteer organization?

What does it mean to be a volunteer organization?

LWVSC Governance Matters
Type: 
Blog Post

Welcome to the LWVSC Governance Matters Memo, a quarterly source of information designed to help League members learn more about governance and how governance helps a board do its work and do its work better. ~Dahlia Handman, Ph.D., Governance Director, League of Women Voters of South Carolina 

What does it mean to be an all volunteer organization? 

It means a nonprofit organization in which volunteers manage the organization and do most or all of the work. As board members, we have volunteered not only to work, but also to be responsible for the organization. 

As a group, we elect a board of officers and directors who take on the legal, ethical and leadership obligations of the organization to our donors, our members and our communities. Volunteer board members manage and lead other volunteers with our ideas, hands and energy. 

When we serve as a local or state League board member we wear two hats - as trustees and as managers and leaders. The Board Responsibility Matrix below explains more. Governance is the responsibility of the board as a whole while managing, leading and working are the responsibility of individual board members.

THE BOARD RESPONSIBILITY MATRIX 

The board as managers and leaders of the organization 

The board as managers and leaders of the organization

RESPONSIBILITIES

RESPONSIBILITIES

In the governance role, the board fulfills its responsibilities by acting as a collective body… In its management and leadership roles, board members fulfill these responsibilities through their actions as individuals… 

In its management and leadership roles, board members fulfill these responsibilities through their actions as individuals…

OBJECTIVES

OBJECTIVES

To ensure that the organization fulfills its legal and financial responsibilities to the community. To ensure that the organization’s work is accomplished and to represent the organization to the community.

1. Handle the money and file the forms. Safeguard assets from misuse, waste and fraud.

2. Keep it legal and safe. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and contractual obligations.

3. Make big decisions for the future.

4. Make sure the organization is accountable and protect the organization’s reputation.

5. Get help when you need it.

6. Plan for arrival and departure of individual members.

To ensure that the organization’s work is accomplished and to represent the organization to the community.

1. Get the work done.

2. Support other volunteers so they can successfully contribute to the work.

3. Be ambassadors to the community. Lend names and personal credibility and reputation to the organization.

4. Provide leadership in spirit and support for the mission.

Adapted from: Masaoka, J., (1999) All Hands on Board, BoardSource and CompassPoint www.boardsource.org

 

Have questions?

You can always reach me.

~Dahlia Handman, Ph.D., Governance Director, League of Women Voters of South Carolina

League to which this content belongs: 
South Carolina