The Trustee Handbook

By Mary Baily Wieler and Robyn Peterson

January marks the beginning of a new board year for many museums across North America. After months of effort cultivating and electing new trustees, the museum and board leadership must welcome the new board members to the museum family. One of the key components to a successful transition for new members is a board orientation day on which the “new class” is introduced to all aspects of the museum. MTA wrote in February about creating an effective board orientation process (Available Here). In this post, we emphasized the importance of the Board Handbook, given to each new board member. But what should this manual contain?
 
I asked an MTA member, Robyn Peterson of the Yellowstone Museum, this question during my July visit. She was preparing to welcome 4 new board members the following week. We decided to collaborate and create an “ideal” Board Orientation Handbook. Here is our version…Read More
Please send us your thoughts and comments!
 
    Table of Contents
I.          Trustee Role and Meetings

• Statement of Mission and Values
• Role of a Trustee
• Schedule of Board Meetings
• Committee Assignments
• Schedule of Committee Meetings
• Committee Charters
• Calendar of Museum Events 

 
II.        About the Museum 

• Guidebook Introduction
• Campus Map
• Fast Facts about the Collection   
• Financial and Education Fast Facts
• Top Five – Highlights of the Museum’s Collection
• Sample Exhibition catalogue
• FY16 Budget
• Strategic Plan 
• Organization Chart
• Organizational Description: stats on visitation, membership, local demographics etc.
• Museum Membership Information
•  Social Media - Web Site addresses    
•  Annual Report – FY15
• Capital Campaign or Special Fundraising Project (if any)
• Endowment Report

 
III.         Policies & Governing Documents

•   By-laws
  • IRS tax-exempt determination
• Code of Ethics & Conflict of Interest Statement

• Collections Management Policy 
•  Gift Acceptance Policy
•  Conservation Policy
• Investment Policy       
  
• Professional Practices in Art Museums from the American Association of Museum Directors
• Personnel Manual
• Other Administrative Policies Approved by the Board
• Proof of D & O Insurance

 
IV.        The People of the Museum

•  Board of Trustees
  •  Board List & Terms
  • Board Bios
  • Board Address List
    
  • Affiliate Groups
    
• Job Description of the Executive Director & his/her CV
  
• Staff Contacts  
  
• Volunteers (sample of handbook given to non-trustee volunteers)