This week we're talking about an important but often underutilized and sometimes dysfunctional component of every nonprofit organization - the board of directors.

Boards can take on different forms, but all boards of directors provide a governance role. Sometimes (most often in the case of small organizations), the board can be a "working board," where members take on operational responsibilities on top of the governance duties.

No matter the approach, board members play an essential role in the oversight of organizations, such as fiduciary duties, leading the strategic planning, and supporting the organization's management. With the programmatic shifts in the industry and issues such as the economy affecting all of us, now more than ever, animal welfare organizations need board members who are ready and willing to step up to the challenge.

We chatted with the senior specialist with the Best Friends national embed team, Trish Tolbert, to learn more about boards.

We want to hear from you about your boards. What's working, and what's not? You may be featured on a future episode. Email: podcast@bestfriends.org

Check out resources from this episode by visiting the website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-110