___You have decided that a Board of Directors can strengthen your organization in one or more of the following ways:
- Perform tasks of the organization
- Support
- Convince others
- Contribute skills
- Advise
- Help with fundraising
___You are aware of the fact that it is usually necessary to have a Board in order to receive nonprofit status or public funding
___You have decided on the type of Board that is best for your organization:
- Traditional
- Steering committee
- Advisory committee
- Board of Directors that reflects the philosophy and structure of a collaborative program
___You have decided on the reasons why your organization needs a Board of Directors:
- Funding, traditional structure, and nonprofit status
- Gaining connections with the community
- Building organizational credibility
- Attracting good people to your organization and your cause
- Using board members' talents and skills
- Maintaining organizational balance
- Safeguarding the mission
___You have decided that you need a Board of Directors
___You have decided on the purpose of the Board you want:
- A working Board that helps with the actual functioning of the organization
- A Board that exists largely for credibility
- A Board that takes advantage of the direct benefits to the organization of members' talents or training
- A fundraising Board to bring money into the organization
- A Board to safeguard the mission and philosophy of the organization
___The Board's relationship to the organization has been determined
___You have decided on the appropriate size of your Board of Directors
___The Board members have been matched to the jobs you want them to do and to the other members of the Board
___The Board members buy into the basic principles of the organization
___The actual Board members have been selected
___The initial meeting has been held on neutral ground
___Introductions have been made
___You have given a report of the state of the organization
___There is a discussion of the organization's goals and of the tasks necessary to meet those goals
___There has been a preliminary discussion of the other committees needed
___The officers have been elected:
- President or Chair
- Vice-President or Vice Chair
- Secretary or Clerk
- Treasurer
___Committee chairs have been appointed if only temporarily
___Members have been assigned to committees
___A Board meeting schedule has been determined