What Trustees Do

Many of us work with museum boards of trustees throughout our careers, but we aren’t sure what they do.

I know I wasn’t for … um, a while.

But that’s not surprising. Staff handle the daily operations, while boards only meet from time to time. Still, trustees are the museum director’s boss. If we want to do our jobs well, it helps to understand what trustees actually do.

A well-known short book, Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards, is often used to orient new trustees. The ten responsibilities it lists are:

1. Determine mission and purpose
2. Select the chief executive
3. Support and evaluate the chief executive
4. Ensure effective planning
5. Monitor and strengthen programs and services
6. Ensure adequate financial resources
7. Protect assets and provide financial oversight
8. Build a competent board
9. Ensure legal and ethical integrity
10. Enhance the organization’s public standing

By the way, here are three things that are ... er, how shall I say ... totally not on that list:

> Approving exhibition topics
> Reviewing design and label texts
> Managing staff or directing projects

Here’s the thing:

Trustees protect the museum’s mission, the money, and the leadership. If they choose to do other things, well, that’s a whole … other thing.

Warmly,
Jonathan

- - - - - - - - - - - -

MtM Word of the Day:
Trustee. A volunteer governing board member legally responsible for the museum’s mission, financial health, and leadership oversight. Trustees hire and evaluate the director, approve budgets and strategy, ensure legal compliance, and help fundraise. They govern the institution’s future, but do not manage staff or design exhibitions.