200 Board Governance

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
CSBG Policy Manual

Policy Title:

Board Governance

Chapter:

200

Effective Date:

October 2020

Policy Number:

200

Previous Policy Number(s):

Overview and Requirements

The Boards of Directors plays a unique and important role in the life of an Eligible Entity. While staff members transition, founding directors retire, and programs change, the board offers consistency in purpose, intent, and responsibility. The governing board acts as a body, not as individuals, and its members are bound by the Duties of Care, Loyalty, and Obedience, bearing legal liability for their individual actions as well as those of the corporation. Governing boards that are functional and active are important for all eligible entities.

Federal legislation requires the establishment of a tripartite board. Sections 676B of the Community Services Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 1998 requires that, as a condition of designation, private nonprofit entities and public organization administer their CSBG program through boards that fully participate in the development, planning, implementation and evaluation of the programs serving low-income communities.

Board Composition for Community Action Agencies

Basic Consideration

The Community Services Block Grant Law [Sec 676B(a)(2)] requires that each Community Action Agency or other private non-profit organization have a Board that is constituted as follows:

  • One-third (1/3) of the members of the board are elected public officials, holding office on the date of selection, or their representatives, except that if the number of such elected officials reasonably available and willing to serve on the board is less than one-third (1/3) of the membership of the board, membership on the board of appointive public officials or their representatives may be counted in meeting such one-third requirement.

  • Not fewer than one-third (1/3) of the members are persons chosen in accordance with democratic selection procedures adequate to assure that these members are representative of low-income individuals and families in the neighborhood served; and each representative of low-income individuals and families selected to represent a specific neighborhood within a community resides in the neighborhood represented by the member.

  • The remaining members of the board are officials or members of business, industry, labor, religious, law enforcement, education, or other major groups and interests in the community served.

Board Composition for Public Organizations

The Community Services Block Grant Law [Sec 676B(a)(2)] requires that public organizations, such as county governments, utilize State-specified mechanisms other than tripartite boards to administer the CSBG program. Each public organization must have an advisory board that is constituted as follows:

  • Not fewer than one-third (1/3) of the members are persons chosen in accordance with democratic selection procedures adequate to assure that these members are representative of low-income individuals and families in the neighborhood served; and

  • each representative of low-income individuals and families selected to represent a specific neighborhood within a community resides in the neighborhood represented by the member.

  • low-income individuals must actively participate in the development, planning, implementation and evaluation of funded programs.

Board Responsibilities

The Board of Directors for any 501(c)3 nonprofit agency has fiduciary responsibility for the overall operation of the agency. CSBG eligible entities must have a tripartite governing board that fully participates in the development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the program to serve low-income communities.

The governing boards are required to approve the following at a minimum:

  • The CSBG Community Action Plan that describes the programs/services and expenditures for the fiscal year.

  • The purchase of any equipment costing $5,000 or more, after the annual proposal has been approved.

  • Contract amendments during the contract period.

  • Subcontracts in amounts of $5,000 or more, except for audit services, janitorial services, and maintenance or pest control.

  • Any budget revisions exceeding fifteen percent (15%) of a line item.

  • Personnel Policies and Procedures for CSBG personnel changes.

Board approval for any of the above items must be confirmed in the minutes of the Board’s meetings.

Advisory Board Responsibilities

CSBG eligible entities that are public organizations, such as county or local governments, must have an advisory board that fully participates in development, planning, implementation and evaluation of the program.

  • The advisory board may or may not be the county commission.

  • Appointed advisory boards make recommendations to the administering agent (i.e., county government, designated agency or individual).

  • The administering agency is responsible for approval of all aspects of CSBG program administration.

Board Training

Board training is an important activity for the governing and advisory board. Training helps in to set standards against which the Board can evaluate its own performance. It will increase the understanding of appropriate execution of board roles and responsibilities and it is an effective tool in facilitating skill development for boards to perform their roles and responsibilities.

Training should cover at a minimum the areas of planning, fiscal oversight, community partnerships, program evaluation, and human resources.

The State Department supports board training by providing funds to the Georgia Community Action Association. State Department staff will assist in facilitating board training if requested by the agency executive director and Board Chair.