Non-profit organizations have three main categories: governance, administration, and programs, each with sub-categories. The board of directors governs the organization, while the administration is paid staff. Programs aim to fulfill the organization’s purpose, and state laws govern the structure.
The typical non-profit organizational structure is broken down into three main categories. Categories include governance, administration, and programs. Within these three primary divisions, there are also numerous sub-categories or subdivisions that fall under each one. The status in which the non-profit organization registers also affects the overall structure of the organization.
The governing body of a non-profit organizational structure is the board of directors. The board of directors can consist of a few people sitting on the board or dozens of members. First, the size of the board depends on the size and needs of the nonprofit. The size of the board also depends on the state in which the organization is based. The primary role of the board of directors is to create and enforce the policies of the organization.
The second primary category of a nonprofit organization is administration. While the board of directors is not made up of paid staff, but simply interested or volunteer parties, the administration is paid staff. The two main sub-categories of employees or administration are the executive director or president and staff. Naturally, the staff may consist of various employees.
Since the premise of a nonprofit is to accomplish a specific purpose, the programs area of a nonprofit organizational structure works to create and implement the programs that fulfill that purpose. For example, if the nonprofit is a history museum, its purpose is to tell the story of its particular area. Programs can include social events, seminars, and even historical tours of the area.
The primary areas of the program include planning, fundraising, public relations, marketing, operations, volunteer coordination, development, and human resources. Again, even within these program sub-categories, there are further sub-categories. The marketing program may consist of a marketing director, marketing manager, and public relations manager. The fundraising area may have a database coordinator, membership director, and event planner.
The state laws in which the nonprofit began and operates also govern the nonprofit’s organizational structure. For example, in Texas, a non-profit organization must have a minimum of three directors who sit on its board. The state also requires one person to serve as the president of the organization, while a separate person must serve as the secretary of the board and the organization. State law also clarifies that the president and secretary must not be the same person, but instead be two separate people.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
