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The Five Types of Boards Every Leader Must Understand
12/29/2025
The Five Types of Boards Every Leader Must Understand
In this episode, Craig and Dawn break down one of the most clarifying—and liberating—topics in board service: the five types of boards. Whether you are a first-time board member or a seasoned leader, understanding the type of board you serve on is essential for alignment, effectiveness, and long-term satisfaction. The hosts emphasize an important truth: not every board is the right fit, and it is both healthy and responsible to say no—or to bow out—when a board’s needs don’t align with your skills, leadership style, or season of life. 🔑 The Five Board Types Explained Working Board Common in start-ups or resource-constrained organizations, working boards are hands-on and operational. While necessary early on, they can create confusion later if roles between board and staff are not clearly defined. Governing Board Focused on strategy, oversight, and policy. In this model, the CEO is the operational expert who guides the board through bylaws, policies, and procedures. This structure may not suit leaders who prefer direct service delivery. Fundraising Board More than “getting dollars,” fundraising boards resource the mission through relationships, access, and advocacy. Every 501(c)(3) board member carries a fiduciary “give/get” responsibility, reflecting the nonprofit’s dual bottom line: mission impact and financial sustainability. Advisory Boards & Committees Distinct from governing boards, advisory groups may offer expertise, credibility, or macro-level insight. These can include task forces, commissions, or emeritus leaders and often serve in an appointed or consultative capacity. Hybrid Board Combining governance, fundraising, and working roles, hybrid boards require exceptional clarity. Clear expectations, defined asks, and regular “re-focus” conversations are critical to prevent burnout and confusion. 🧭 Tools & Governance Insights *Why board matrices matter for clarifying decision-making authority *How staff vs. board thresholds protect both leadership and mission *The role of term limits in healthy governance and leadership renewal ❓ Three Discernment Questions for Board Service 1- Mission Fit: Does this mission still align with your values? 2- Board Type Fit: Does the board’s structure match how you want to serve? 3- Cultural Fit: Does the way this board operates align with how you lead? 💡 Key Takeaway Clarity creates confidence. When you understand the type of board you’re serving on—and why—you can show up fully, lead effectively, or step away with integrity. About The Confident Company This episode of The Board Edit is brought to you by The Confident Company, a modern leadership and governance firm dedicated to helping nonprofit board members lead with clarity, courage, and confidence. We believe board service is one of the most powerful forms of civic leadership—and that confident boards build better futures. Explore Our Resources & Offerings The Confident Board Member™ Book - Available on Amazon and Audible A modern, values-based guide to nonprofit governance grounded in the SERVE + SMART™ Framework. Designed for both aspiring and active board members, the book blends practical tools, real-world insight, and reflection prompts to help you turn purpose into practice. Courses Self-paced courses and short-form Learning Labs that build core governance skills—meeting readiness, accountability, engagement, strategy, and culture—designed to fit real board members’ lives: *Board Member Bootcamp *Board Chair Bootcamp *The Confident Board Member Signature Program The Confident Collective A membership community created exclusively for nonprofit board members. Members receive: *Weekly Learning Labs *Biweekly Lunch & Learns *Practical tools and templates *Guided reflection and coaching prompts *Access to a community of values-driven peers This is ongoing development for people who take board service seriously. The Board Edit A practical, candid podcast about what it really means to serve on a nonprofit board—covering governance, leadership behavior, board–staff dynamics, and the habits that separate good boards from great ones. Subscribe to The Board Edit across major podcast platforms. Board & Leadership Development Services We partner with a select number of organizations each year to support: *Board assessments and alignment *Retreat facilitation and strategy sessions *Board onboarding and education *Governance culture and behavior change *CEO–board relationship strengthening Our work blends facilitation, coaching, and practical frameworks to help boards move from intention to impact. Learn more! Follow Dawn Rochelle and Craig Wagner on LinkedIn: Dawn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-rochelle-lcsw Craig — https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigjwagner For more board leadership tools, workshops, and free downloads, visit: https://www.confidentcompanyus.com Have feedback or a question? Email us anytime at: hello@theconfidentcompany.com.
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