🟦 Rebuilding Trust Between Nonprofits & Boards: Why Governance Needs a Culture Shift

In theory, nonprofit boards and staff leadership share the same goal: to advance the mission with integrity and impact. But in practice, the relationship between executive teams and boards is often strained—rife with miscommunication, misaligned expectations, and power imbalances.

This erosion of trust doesn't just create tension—it threatens the stability, strategic clarity, and long-term sustainability of the organization. If we’re serious about building effective, equitable nonprofits, we need to rebuild trust in governance from the inside out.

What’s Happening and Why It Matters

Research from BoardSource’s “Leading with Intent” (2021) found that:

• Only 43% of nonprofit CEOs strongly agree their board understands the organization’s work.

• Just 27% say their board is “very effective” in building trust with staff.

• Nearly half of board members are unclear about their role versus that of the executive director.

  
  

Meanwhile, staff—especially in BIPOC-led organizations—often experience the board not as a partner, but as an oversight mechanism disconnected from on-the-ground realities. This disconnect is amplified during times of leadership transition, funding strain, or public scrutiny.

When trust breaks down between boards and staff, mission alignment, morale, and impact all suffer.

The Deeper Problem: Governance Culture, Not Just Structure

We tend to talk about governance in terms of structure—bylaws, roles, committees—but less about culture: how boards engage, how they hold power, and how they build (or erode) trust.

Some of the core issues include:

1. Power Imbalances and Board Dominance

   
   

   Too many boards operate from a top-down mindset, expecting deference from staff while remaining insulated from the day-to-day work. This dynamic reinforces hierarchy and undercuts collaboration.

   
   

2. Lack of Lived Experience and Community Representation

   
   

   Many boards lack racial, socioeconomic, or geographic diversity—and may not reflect the communities the organization serves. Without context or shared lived experience, trust gaps deepen.

   
   

3. Fear of Transparency

   
   

   Executive leaders may withhold difficult truths for fear of board overreach, while boards may avoid hard conversations to maintain harmony. The result? A surface-level “alignment” that avoids the real issues.

   
   

4. Governance Fatigue and Disengagement

   
   

   Board members, often volunteers, may disengage due to unclear expectations, time constraints, or lack of purpose—creating cycles of minimal oversight followed by micromanagement in crisis.

What Trust-Building Boards Do Differently

Boards don’t have to be perfect to be trusted—but they do need to be intentional. Based on insights from BoardSource, CompassPoint, and direct experience supporting dozens of nonprofits, we’ve identified key trust-building behaviors:

✅ Clarify Roles and Boundaries. A board’s role is governance, not management. Clear distinctions between oversight and operations help reduce friction and build mutual respect.

✅ Prioritize Relationship Building. Boards should invest time in building rapport and psychological safety with staff leadership. That includes regular check-ins, open dialogue, and showing up in meaningful (not performative) ways.

✅ Create Equity Ground Rules. Boards should adopt shared agreements around power-sharing, inclusive decision-making, and naming dynamics across race, class, and positional authority.

✅ Encourage Shared Leadership. High-trust boards invite co-creation, listen deeply to staff and community voice, and understand that leadership expertise exists throughout the organization—not just at the top.

✅ Engage in Learning Together. Trust is strengthened when boards and leadership learn side-by-side—whether through equity workshops, strategic planning, or governance retreats facilitated by trusted partners.

A New Culture of Governance

Governance isn’t just a legal function. It’s a relational practice. Trust is built in moments—through transparency, humility, accountability, and care.

At Atabey Strategies, we work with boards and leadership teams to build this culture of trust by:

• Facilitating honest conversations between boards and staff

• Leading equity-focused board development sessions

• Supporting governance transitions and realignment

• Reviewing bylaws and policies to reflect values—not just legal minimums

  
  

When governance becomes relational, not just procedural, everyone leads more effectively.

If your organization is struggling with board-staff alignment, trust gaps, or governance growing pains—you're not alone. But you're also not stuck. At Atabey Strategies, we help nonprofits and funders rebuild trust, reimagine governance, and root leadership in shared purpose.

📩 Let’s start the conversation: info@atabeystrategies.com