Board Governance

Governance refers to how a Board of Directors steers an organization. How well an organization is governed is critically important in determining how effective that organization will be. The Community Foundation for the Twin Tiers (CFTT) is governed by a twelve member Board of Directors with three directors chosen from each of the four counties served by the foundation. The Board's job, on behalf of the CFTT, is to define and demand appropriate organizational performance to achieve its mission and ends and avoid situations and activities that are unacceptable.

In defining what is meant by Board governance the Board has three duties it cannot delegate to staff: it is responsible for setting the direction for the organization by developing explicit governing policies, assurance of executive performance, and maintaining linkages with the public it serves. It can choose to take on other responsibilities such as fund raising, legislative impact, public image, managing reserves, and dealing in real estate.

The Board commits itself and its members to ethical, business like, and lawful conduct, including proper use of authority and appropriate decorum when acting as Board members. The Board represents the residents and organizations within the counties it serves and therefore, it must educate itself regarding the diverse values held by the persons it represents and must always act under the influence of those values. The Board must report periodically to the citizens of these counties on its stewardship.

The activities and policies of the CFTT Board of Directors can be found in this section.