June 2008 Press Release

Oldsmar, FL, June 17–In his latest book, nonprofit expert Doug Eadie argues that many of the nation’s estimated 10 million nonprofit board members fall short of their leadership potential because they are consigned to a passive, review-and-approve role, participating only at a surface level in decision making about the high-stakes issues facing their organizations.

A volunteer Governing Board sits at the top of each of the country’s estimated 1.5 million nonprofit organizations (NPOs). Many of the NPOs they govern provide critical community-based services in health, housing, education, and the arts. “All Americans have a huge stake in these boards effectively carrying out their governing responsibility,” Eadie says.

In Meeting the Governing Challenge, he shows how nonprofits that thrive in difficult times apply his High-Impact Governing Model to help transform well-qualified, but passive, boards into dynamic governing bodies that help provide a clear strategic vision, actively monitor performance, and ensure that their organization has the resources to carry out its mission. Meeting the Governing Challenge is available online at www.DougEadie.com ($24.50).

 “High-impact” boards, the author asserts, work collaboratively as a full partner with the CEO on the high-stakes challenges facing their organization. As a result, they feel a stronger sense of ownership of their governing work, contribute to better decision making, and gain stability and strength from their close partnership with the CEO.

Meeting the Governing Challenge is a practical, easy-to-adopt guide for restoring effective governance as the preeminent role of nonprofit boards. In six concise chapters, the author shows how to apply these key elements of his High-Impact Governing Model:

Meeting the Governing Challenge is a practical, easy-to-adopt guide for restoring effective governance as the preeminent role of nonprofit boards. In six concise chapters, the author shows how to apply these key elements of his High-Impact Governing Model: A board-savvy CEO who views the board as a precious asset that should be fully deployed in strengthening and growing the organization, a detailed governing mission for the board and carefully designed governing processes, well-designed board standing committees that function as “governing engines”, and self-management and support programs that help board members carry out their governing functions.

Eadie is president of Doug Eadie & Company, based in Oldsmar, FL. His previous books include High-Impact Governing in a Nutshell and the award-winning Extraordinary Board Leadership.