How to Engage and Inform the Nonprofit Board

The Value of the Performance Dashboard

Peter Manzetti, CPA, and Amish Mehta, CPA

At first glance, driving a car and overseeing the operations of a nonprofit might not seem to have much in common, but similarities emerge upon a closer look. A driver's objective is to get from point A to point B while obeying the rules of the road, avoiding tickets and accidents, and arriving with an intact vehicle. The goal of a nonprofit board member or senior management is to maneuver the organization toward the fulfillment of its mission, while complying with laws and regulations and avoiding anything that damages the organization's credibility and viability. While in the not-for-profit's case, “point B” may be somewhat elusive, it is still equally important to keep the “vehicle”—the organization—out of harm's way.