Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards Determine mission and purpose.

The board should ensure that the chief executive has the moral and professional support they need to further the goals of the organization. [...] Legal responsibilities of nonprofit board members • Nonprofit board members have the legal responsibility to meet the duty of care, the duty of loyalty, and the duty of obedience. [...] Duty of Care The duty of care describes the level of competence that is expected of a board member and is commonly expressed as the duty of “care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise in a like position and under similar circumstances.” This means that a board member owes the duty to exercise reasonable care when he or she makes a decision as a steward of the organization. [...] Suggest possible nominees to the board who can make significant contributions to the work of the board and the organization. [...] Assume responsibilities of the chair in the absence of the board chair, chair-elect, and vice chair.