What is the difference between the board’s role and the Executive Director’s role?

The Civil Society Accountability Toolkit identifies “a clear separation of roles between the board and management” as an explicit accountability standard.

The Board is responsible for:

• Setting and reviewing the organisation’s mission, vision, and strategic direction
• Approving policies, the annual budget, and major decisions
• Oversight and accountability for organisational performance
• Hiring, supporting, and evaluating the Executive Director
• Ensuring legal and regulatory compliance

The Executive Director is responsible for:

• Day-to-day management and operations
• Implementing the strategy and decisions approved by the board
• Managing staff and volunteers
• Financial management within the approved budget
• Reporting to the board on organisational performance

The key principle is that the board should never micromanage operations, and the ED should not dominate governance decisions.