Who’s in Charge Here? Role of the Board of Directors vs. Role of the Executive Director

Silhouetted children playing tug-of-war on a hill at sunset with a dramatic sky in the background, symbolizing the dynamic balance of leadership seen between a nonprofit board vs executive director.

What’s the difference between the roles of the board and an executive director?
Running a successful nonprofit takes an active board of directors and a dedicated staff led by a capable executive director. However, your nonprofit’s effectiveness can be hampered when the board and executive director play tug of war. So what is the role of each in leading a nonprofit?

Nonprofit Law Basics: Who Owns a Nonprofit?

Who owns a nonprofit?

Who owns a nonprofit?

A major misconception about nonprofit organizations is that people can own them. No one person or group of people can own a nonprofit organization. The public “owns” nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits are created to provide a charitable purpose.