What Are Board Member Roles and Responsibilities?

The structure of board roles may vary from one organization to the next, but most break down into the following board of director responsibilities:

Board Chair: Frequently referred to as Board President, this person works closely with the organization’s leaders and management to ensure the organization’s mission and goals meet the highest standards and are carried out to everyone’s satisfaction. The Board Chair is also responsible for setting agendas, conducting board meetings, hiring and overseeing the CEO, creating committees, and appointing committee chairs.

Dr. Randall S. Peterson, Professor of Organizational Behavior at London Business School, offers the following tips for what makes a great board chair:

• Fostering a culture that’s truly inclusive, where people feel like they belong.
• Creating an atmosphere where multiple voices are heard, and opinions are valued.
• Developing leadership skills, such as emotional intelligence, patience, and diplomacy. 
• Modeling the values they wish to encourage in their team.
• Becoming digitally aware to modernize the board-meeting process. 
• Establishing trust through managed conflict and effective decision-making. 
• Listening more than you speak, and remaining open-minded to new ideas.

Vice President: Also referred to as the Vice Chair, the person serving in this role serves as second-in-command and keeps abreast of all board activities, so they’re ready to step in as Board President when the need arises. They also take on special projects assigned by the Board Chair, such as leading the important Nominating and Governance Committee. Vice Presidents are typically groomed to be the Chair’s successor near the end of the Chair’s term.

Secretary: This person handles the many tasks involved to ensure board meetings (and boards in general) remain effective and efficient. This includes providing meeting notices, preparing agendas, and taking minutes during board meetings, then distributing the approved minutes to the entire board.

In addition, a board’s secretary prepares and maintains various board records needed for audit compliance, historical reference, and other regulatory requirements.

Treasurer: This person monitors finances, prepares the organization’s budget, and typically oversees the board’s finance committee.

Committee Chair: Boards often appoint various committees to dive deeper into different initiatives for the organization. A Committee Chair leads the committee, sets the agenda for committee meetings, and reports information gleaned back to the full board.

Director: Individual board members fulfill director roles on a board. Their responsibilities typically fall under the umbrella of a fiduciary or legal advisor — or providing sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies. They’re also tasked with fundraising and advocating for the organization.

No matter which role your board directors serve in, look for engaged individuals who embrace change, want to learn new technology, and show a willingness to consider other ideas. A more diverse board with a varied set of professional experiences, age ranges, and economic backgrounds can help you serve your community in more impactful ways. 

RELATED: What is the Difference Between a Board of Directors and Board of Trustees?