Every credible NGO begins with passion, but it takes structure to endure. At the center of that structure is your board. More than just a legal requirement, your board helps shape your organisation’s direction, accountability, and reputation. It’s where your mission meets management; and your vision becomes strategy.
At Syntax Legal Practitioners, we’ve worked with founders across many sectors to build boards that truly make a difference and NGOs are not left out. Here’s are some tips for you if you are on a journey to create one that supports your mission and earns the trust of your stakeholders.
1. Choose People Who Bring Passion and Professionalism
Your board members should care deeply about your mission, but passion alone isn’t enough. You need people with sound judgment, relevant skills, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Look for individuals who can contribute in areas like finance, law, fundraising, strategy, or community engagement. These are necessary. Avoid building a board made up only of friends or family. You want a group that fills the gaps, and also challenges you to grow, not one that simply agrees with everything you say.
A strong board blends heart and head.
2. Be Clear About Roles and Expectations
When roles aren’t clear, confusion and tension can follow. From the beginning, make sure every board member knows what is expected of them. The ideal practice is to ensure these roles and their Key Performance Indicators are in writing. This ensures there is no need for misunderstanding.
The board is responsible for strategic oversight and accountability.
The board will usually have a chairperson who chairperson leads meetings, sets the agenda, and keeps conversations focused on long-term goals. Management will then handle the day-to-day operation.
Clear expectations save time, protect relationships, and help everyone work toward the same goals.
3. Make Board Meetings Matter
Board meetings should be more than just a formality. They’re where key decisions are made, and your organisation’s integrity is upheld.
The importance of a company secretary in guiding the board cannot be overemphasised. The secretary will often co-ordinate the different groups of stakeholders mentioned above and send the agenda and important documents ahead of time so members can prepare.
Along with the chairperson, the secretary will ensure discussions remain focused on governance and not daily operations and also record decisions while following up on action items.
A healthy meeting culture shows that your NGO is serious and well-run. It also helps you stay ready for annual filings or donor reviews.
4. Build a Culture of Accountability
A strong board sets the tone for the entire organisation. A common practice is to review the board’s own performance each year to see what is working and what needs improvement. An efficient company secretary can also guide you on effective board evaluation.
Another common practice is to encourage members to disclose any conflict(s) of interest, whether existing or potential.
When accountability is part of your culture, it sends a clear message to donors, partners, and regulators that you and your organisation can be trusted.
As you move toward building a more accountable board, use the following questions to guide your selection process:
✅ Do they genuinely believe in your mission?
✅ Do they bring relevant skills or experience?
✅ Are they independent and objective?
✅ Are they reliable and available to serve?
✅ Do they have a strong reputation for integrity?
If you’d like expert guidance or support in strengthening your board, feel free to reach out for a consultation or company secretary services at lawyers@syntaxlaw.com
Syntax Legal Practitioners 