HRET Presents New Book on Nonprofit Governance

A practical guide for board leaders, members and those who report to them.

A Great Board: Building and Enhancing Nonprofit Boards
By Howard Berman
Publication Date: October 2003
Paperback, 6 x 9, 211 pages
Single copies: $35.00
2-5 copies: $25.00 per copy
6+ copies: $15.00 per copy
Place your order online. 

 

 

 

 

 

“Berman’s theory—explained and supported in detail in this book—is that a nonprofit corporation must be governed with the same economic and management discipline as a for-profit corporation, if it is to meet its obligation to its community. Indeed, this theory, which he has put into practice, is his legacy to the nonprofit movement in this country.” —Stephen M. Cleary, Attorney, Hinman & Straub
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“If you are going to read one book on nonprofit governance—your first or fifty-first—this is the one to read.” —Robert M. Sigmond
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“Berman offers a compelling explanation as to why today's nonprofit corporations are growing rapidly and how their boards of directors differ greatly from those of ordinary businesses.A Great Board contains timely, practical advice on how nonprofit boards can consistently achieve excellent performance. This book is ‘must’ reading for all executives of nonprofit corporations.” —Irwin Flack, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, History, SUNY Oswego
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“Howard Berman has written a remarkable book. . . . It includes valuable insights into and guidelines for board structure, operation and performance.” —Howard S. Zuckerman, Ph.D.

Former HRET president Howard Berman has written a compelling new book on how nonprofit boards work—at least how they should work if they are going to fulfill their strategic missions. Berman has condensed years of experience as a member of and CEO reporting to nonprofit corporate boards into this useful guide. An indispensable resource for experienced as well as beginning board members and corporate officers, this book explains the strategic and operational imperatives of nonprofit governance. Berman establishes nine “guide star” or benchmark principles that govern the actions of the CEO, board chair, board as a whole, and individual board members. HRET is publishing A Great Board as part of its series on nonprofit governance, which includes The Guide to Governance for Hospital and Health System Trustees (revised, 1999, 98 pages), by James E. Orlikoff and Mary K. Totten.

The nine “guide star” principles:

The CEO:

1.Must simultaneously support the board, guiding its direction, and follow the board’s direction.

2.Must recognize that he or she serves at the pleasure of the board.

The board chairman:

3.Must manage the board and its meetings, providing leadership to its deliberations and actions.

4.Must serve as the board’s operational and philosophical conscience.

The board:

5.Must set policy, approve strategy, select and evaluate the chief executive – not manage operations.

6.Must recognize that the enterprise – both the people it serves and its employees – counts on the board and on its commitment to do its job.

Expectations of the individual board members:

7.Must demand high standards of behavior and performance, both from themselves and their colleagues.

8.Must serve as active and visible ambassadors of the enterprise to the community.

9.Must give the chief executive the confidence and courage to act while at the same time protecting against avoidable mistakes.

 
 
Howard Berman is Vice Chairman of Lifetime Healthcare Companies, the parent company of Excellus, Inc. In April 2003 he retired from his post as CEO, a position he held since 1985. Berman was the President of the Health Research and Educational Trust from 1983–85. He also received the Walter J. McNerney Fellowship for Health System Improvement in April 2001. Berman is co-author of Shapers of American Health Care Policy: An Oral History (Health Administration Press, 1985) and Financial Management of Hospitals (Health Administration Press, eight editions, 1972–95). He has served on numerous boards, including the Alliance for Advancing Nonprofit Healthcare (Chairman), the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Board of Directors and Executive Committee, the Business Council of New York State, and the Chase Bank Northeast Regional Board.