A little more than ten years ago, I published “The Little Book of Boards” to help board members of small nonprofits everywhere. What is the actual job of a board member? If there’s paid staff, who gets to decide what?
It’s not necessarily intuitive! I wrote the book for those who are eager to do good but don’t have years of board experience under their belt. In fact, I wrote it especially for those folks, who found themselves at a small nonprofit because they loved the mission and then wondered, “Is this how it’s supposed to be?”
And I’m honored to say… a lot of people found the book helpful. In more than ten years, I’ve sold tens of thousands of copies of just this one book, to boards and board members all over the country.
So when Harriman House, an imprint of Pan MacMillan, approached me to write a second edition, I was eager to say yes. Because for all the strengths of the book, I had some strong ideas about ways to improve it.
What’s New in the Second Edition
The heart of the book is the same: a concise, practical guide to help board members and nonprofit leaders understand their roles and do their jobs well. But I’ve made some changes
- A new chapter on “getting things done.” This might be my favorite topic in general, ha, but it’s important here. How does a board actually move the needle within the nonprofit board system? I delve in.
- A new chapter for the executive director with ideas on how to work with a board and support them.
- An expanded section on board structure and board foundations
- Updated information about new technology, including digital communication, board portals, and AI
- And more!
I’ve also worked to keep the book practical and efficient. Get in, get what you need, and get back to the good work your nonprofit is doing.
The new book is available everywhere on June 16, 2026.
