Governance

Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice Designed by The Panel on the Nonprofit sector to guide board members and staff leaders of every charitable organization as they work to improve their operations.

Articles of Incorporation

NAMI Articles of Incorporation A legal document that is filed with the state to create a corporation

Bylaws

NAMI Bylaws A set of rules adopted by NAMI in order to govern its affairs and the behavior of its members
NAMI State Organization Bylaws Checklist Use to assess NAMI State Organization bylaws
NAMI Affiliate Bylaws Checklist Use to assess NAMI Affiliate Organization bylaws

NAMI Policies

Board of Directors Operating Policies and Procedures NAMI’s Policies and Procedures encompass and regulate activities required to run the organization, and are an integral requirement for all properly managed entities
Business Supporter Relationship Policy NAMI’s guidelines for entering into business supporter relationships with other corporations, business and professional organizations
Compensation Policy A written document that describes the detail of the compensation practices related to pay rates, employee evaluation and pay increases in the organization
Conflict of Interest Policy This policy helps guide decisions made by a Board of Directors when one of the Directors could benefit personally from the outcome of the decision
Dispute Policy Dispute and grievance resolution process
Ethics Policy The purpose for an ethics policy is to establish a culture of openness, trust and integrity in business practices
Mission and Identity Statement A statement of the purpose of NAMI
Record Retention Policy Describes how an organization manages documents that are legally required for organizational health and transparency of operations
Procedures for Termination of Organizations and Affiliates
Values Core values that define the composition, operation and work of every NAMI Affiliate, NAMI State Organization and NAMI
Whistleblower Policy A whistleblower policy encourages the reporting of legal violations as well as protecting against retaliation directed at someone who reports legal misconduct

Roles and Responsibilities

Board Member Job DescriptionThe following descriptions were adapted from materials from BoardSource
Board Responsibilities Primary responsibilities of a governing Board
Core Functions of a Board The core functions of a public service governing Board
Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards Clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the board as a corporate or collective entity and summarizes individual board members responsibilities.
First 90 Days- State Presidents A guide for new Presidents of NAMI State and Affiliate Organizations

Meeting Aids

Parliamentary Procedure Guide on how to conduct a meeting
Board Meeting Minutes Template Various items that need to be documented for your organization
Meeting Agenda Template 1
Meeting Agenda Template 2

Board Recruitment and Orientation

Board Recruitment Packet-SAMPLE Example of effective Board Recruitment and useful Board job description
Board Member Orientation Outline- SAMPLE Useful document for orienting new Board members
Board Manual Guide Guide for creating a board orientation and resource tool.

Assessment Tools

Community Readiness Handbook Handbook that models how to assess a community’s readiness for change, increase community capacity and create a climate that makes change possible
Self Assessment for Boards (Compass Point) Board Self-evaluation