Checklist for board recruitment & new members

Prospective Board Members–Information Kit

  • Letter of invitation signed by the Chair
  • Overview of organisation and services/programs
  • Constitution or Rules of Association and Objects of Association
  • Term of office (if applicable)
  • Time requirements
  • Board meetings
  • Sub-committee meetings
  • Orientation sessions
  • Other time requirements
  • Selection process
  • Mission, Goals and Values statements
  • Code of ethics/conduct
  • Upcoming meetings and events
  • Annual Report (including most recent audit report)
  • Newsletters/newspaper clippings/brochures/representative publications
  • List of current board members
  • Organisation’s contact details (address, telephone, fax, email and website)
  • Contact details of Chair/Board contact and CEO

New Board Members – The Induction Folder

Background information:

  • Brief overview of the organisation and its projects
  • Brief history
  • Summary of funding sources
  • Current newsletters, flyers, brochures
  • Contact details (address, telephone, fax, email and website)
  • Group statistics (no. of members, programs, clients served, etc)
  • Recent media clippings

Official documents:

  • Objects of Association
  • Constitution or Rules of Association
  • Mission, Vision, Value statements
  • Code of Ethics/Conduct
  • Strategic Plan
  • Copies of Insurance policies (for Board and the organisation)
  • Relevant policies (eg Conflict of Interest, Work Health & Safety, etc)
  • Current year’s budget
  • Chart of delegations (including Media & Financial)
  • Agenda and Minutes of recent board meetings
  • Annual Report and auditor’s report
  • List of Policies and Procedures
  • Evacuation procedures
  • Enterprise Agreement and link to relevant award (eg SCHADS)

The Board

  • Board Job Description
  • List of board members, their positions, short bio and contact details
  • Meeting schedule and calendar of upcoming events
  • List of sub-committees including terms of reference, chairs and members
  • Copies of Board reviews or evaluations
  • Declaration of Interest (to be completed at first Board meeting and first meeting after subsequent AGMs)

The staff

  • Staff names, titles and areas of responsibility (including volunteers if relevant)
  • Specific information about senior staff including brief bios
  • Organisation chart including board sub-committees

For further information contact:Amanda Smithers

Senior Policy Officer

NCOSS

Ph –02 8960 7927

Email -

New south Wales Council of Social Service ©2016