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The Daily Insight Hub

Who can be on the board of directors of a nonprofit?

Author

Isabella Turner

Updated on January 07, 2026

A 501(c)(3) eligible nonprofit board of directors in California MUST:

  • Have three or more members unless there are only one or two shareholders of record.
  • Only pay a maximum of half of the board of directors, if any.
  • Elect the following members: president, secretary and treasurer.

    Can a nonprofit CEO be on the board of directors?

    There is a segment of the nonprofit sector that has its executive director/president/CEO serving as a voting member of the board of directors. Interestingly, nonprofits that serve in the international service area, report that 33 % of their CEOs serve as voting board members.

    Can the president of a nonprofit also be a director?

    A nonprofit can have a president/CEO and an executive director if the organization maintains a specific structure. For example: President/CEO who has full authority for operations.

    Do you have to be a director to be on the board?

    By law, every private limited company must have at least one company director. The directors of the company make up its board of directors. At least one director must be a natural person (as opposed to another company). A public limited company must have at least two directors.

    What does it mean to be on the board of directors for a nonprofit?

    Board members are the fiduciaries who steer the organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as by making sure the nonprofit has adequate resources to advance its mission.

    Can CEO be on board of directors?

    Management Team Often, the CEO will also be designated as the company’s president and therefore be one of the inside directors on the board (if not the chair). However, it is highly suggested that a company’s CEO should not also be the company’s chair to ensure the chair’s independence and clear lines of authority.

    Can a nonprofit executive director serve on the board?

    Typically, an executive director attends and participates in board meetings as an advisor. However, it may not be appropriate for the ED to participate in meetings when issues arise that directly affect him or her, such as personnel matters.

    Who is the chair of a nonprofit board?

    When a nonprofit organization is new, it is fairly common for the founding executive director to serve as interim chair of the board. Most of the time, this is a short-lived transition, and the board seeks to find an outside president since the board is responsible for reviewing the executive director’s performance and pay.

    Can a founder be board president and executive director?

    The founder of a new nonprofit is currently the board president. There are no employees at this point, but the nonprofit is starting to grow and the founder would now like to become the executive director and be paid. However, he would still like to remain on the board. Can he stay the board president?

    Who are the officers of a nonprofit organization?

    Volunteer officers are most commonly elected by the board, and compensated officers are commonly hired. The compensated executive director, president, or CEO (the “Executive”) is generally hired by the board, and this is often identified as one of the most important duties of the board.