Contents | 1.
Introduction | 2.
Life cycles | 3.
Models | 4.
The Board
5.
Board review questionnaires | 6.
Resources
6. Resources
Handbooks
The book of the Board. Effective Governance for Non-Profit Organisations. David Fishel. Federation Press, Sydney 2003.
14 Chapters including:
- Letter of the Law
- Policy and Planning Toolkit
- Committee Structures
- Role of the Chair
- The board and the Chief Executive
- Assessing and Improving the Board
Highly recommended. An invaluable handbook for boards and board members of non-profit organisations. Written specifically for an Australian context.
Nonprofit Boards That Work. The end of One-Size-Fits-All Governance. Maureen K Robinson. John Wiley & Sons, NY, 2001.
Chapters
include:
1. Assigning value: Do Boards matter
2. Why one size won't fit all
3. Defining the role of the board
4. Boards that work: the structure of the work
5. Boards that work: the substance of the work
6. Building productivity through board culture
7. A working partnership: The executive director and the board
8. Saying yes twice: Engaging the individual board member
9. Fine-tuning the instrument
Nonprofit Boards: Roles, Responsibilities, and Performance. Diane J. Duca. John Wiley and Sons, NY, 1996
Chapters
include:
1.
Models of governance and Leadership
2.
Accountability: A Board's Fiduciary Obligations
3. Structuring a Board for Maximum Effectiveness
4. Organising the Board's work
5. The Core responsibilities of a nonprofit board
6. Building a cooperative spirit
7. Effective Board meetings
8. Maintaining focus on mission
9. New challenges for nonprofit boards
Boards that make a difference: A new design for Leadership in Non-profit and public organisations. John Carver. Jossey-Bass, 1990
This book introduced the Policy Governance model. It is essential reading for anyone wanting to implement the Carver model of governance.
Good
governance principles 
Australian
Standard AS 800-2003. (29pp) Useful framework for the issues that
need to be dealt with in good governance.
Principles of Good Corporate governance and Best Practice Recommendations Australian Stock Exchange Corporate governance Council. 2003. Describes 10 corporate governance principles and how to achieve them:
1.
Lay solid foundations for management and oversight
2. Structure the board to add value
3. Pr9mote ethical and responsible decision-making
4. Safeguard integrity in financial reporting
5. Make timely and balanced disclosure
6. Respect the rights of shareholders
7. Recognise and manage risk
8. Encourage enhanced performance
9. Remunerate fairly and responsibly
10. Recognise the legitimate interests of stakeholders
Legal responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities of Directors and Officers, 17th Edition. Robert Baxt. The Australian Institute of Company Directors, 2002.
Provides full details for the duties and responsibilities of directors. 10 chapters including:
- Duties to act honestly and to avoid conflicts of interest
- Duty to act with care and diligence
- Statutory indemnity and insurance provisions for directors of a company
- Insolvent trading
- Traps for the unwary
Practical help
NCOSS Management Support Unit Facts Sheets including:
- Good Governance: Simple measures to assist non-government organisations in maintaining good governance
- Board Code of Conduct: A Code of Conduct for Boards of Management of Incorporated Non-Government Organisations
- Roles and Responsibilities: Roles and Responsibilities of office bearers and general members of Board of Management of Incorporated Associations
- Executive Code of Conduct: A Code of Conduct for Executive Officers of Voluntary Organisations
- Board Members: Attracting New Board Members
- Board/Executive Relationship: Ensuring a productive relationship between Board Members and the Executive Officer
Our Community. Com - Community Management and Training Centre
NCOSS
- A
Skills Test for Good governance (9
pages)
Governance resources
Non-Profit Governance and Management Centre
CPA Corporate Governance Toolkit