Liabilities of Non-Profit Board of Directors

Non-profit organizations provide essential social services that benefit communities and their members. The vast majority of these organizations cannot survive without a volunteer board of directors assigned to elect officers, adopt policies and make major financial decisions for the organization. Although members of the board are volunteers, there is a certain amount of risk involved in holding one of these positions. Specifically, even when acting in good faith, board members are subject to personal liability, which may affect their personal financial status because of their management decisions. The role of a volunteer board member does come with certain legal responsibilities and certain legal ramifications when things do not go right. 

It is imperative that your organization and board of directors understand the risks involved with their responsibilities as board members and the ways in which they can protect themselves from personal liability.  Every community organization has a duty to educate prospective and sitting board members on their legal duties and obligations on an annual basis.  That said, ignorance is not a defence at law and where the organization fails to provide information it is ultimately the personal responsibility of each board member to educate themselves before accepting a volunteer board position and/or continuing to serve on a board.  Having one’s name on the letterhead does bring real ramifications.  

Risks and Responsibilities

To combat the chance of affecting the personal liability of board members, non-profit organizations should assess the risks involved with holding these positions. Your organization should first develop a volunteer risk management committee to identify all risks and pose solutions to minimize potential harm. In addition, you need to ensure that the board members understand their governance responsibilities. Your non-profit should educate its board on their legal duties, fiduciary duties and decision-making roles. Furthermore, the risk committee should ensure the following:

• The organization is working within its stated mission.
• Funds are spent according to the mission and spending decisions are known to donors. The organization does not accept donations with conditions.
• Individuals advancing personal agendas counter to the organization’s mission are not allowed to sit on the board.

Once the risks are assessed and the board of directors is aware of those risks, board members must also understand the responsibilities associated with the positions they hold. Legally, board members have three main duties:

1. Duty of Care: The individual should act in the way that a reasonable person would act in a similar position and under similar circumstances. Acting under good faith is an essential part of the functions of the board.
2. Duty of Loyalty: The individual should place the organization’s financial interests as the primary responsibility. As a board member, one should not use his or her position for personal gain, financially or otherwise. In addition, individuals should be honest about business ventures that pose a conflict of interest when acting as a representative of the organization.
3. Duty of Obedience: The individual should try to further the mission of the non-profit by supporting board decisions and implementing policies as they are outlined.

Board members who fail to fulfill their duties as outlined above may be held liable for their actions or inactions.

Protections

Since there are risks involved with being part of a non-profit board of directors, there are several protections available to minimize personal liability. First, most non-profit organizations have indemnification provisions in their bylaws. These provisions explain that the organization will cover or reimburse the legal expenses accrued by board members in the event of a lawsuit. However, it should be noted that indemnification is only as good as an organization’s financial ability to pay it. If an organization does not have excess funds, it may not be able to support this provision.

Incorporated organizations are required by law to indemnify their directors for such losses. There is no such obligation imposed upon unincorporated groups, but most groups do offer indemnities because it is a good policy to do so.

Finally, non-profit organizations should purchase directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance to cover their board members in situations that fall outside of the indemnification provisions or in the event that their financial situation does not allow them to cover extensive legal expenses.

Beyond providing a financial backing to indemnification provision, D&O liability insurance is essential since most individuals will not volunteer on a board with the knowledge that they are risking their personal assets in the event of litigation.  Further, D&O can include coverage to protect board members from claims made against them for hiring/termination decisions, failure to make statutory remittances and costs of investigations.  The potential for personal loss is real! 

More Information

Proper insurance coverage and other risk management strategies can help ensure that your organization and its board of directors is protected against liability. For more information about appropriate insurance coverage, contact Reith & Associates Insurance and Financial Services Limited at 519.631.3862 today.