The governing bodies of a non-governmental organization (NGO) are established even before its formation, precisely during the founding assembly. Their structure is described in the organization's charter. However, if the organization is already in existence and you wish to modify the governance structure, it is not a major issue. In such a scenario, you can convene another general assembly to approve the new governance structure (new organizational bodies) and appoint the necessary individuals to their respective positions. Let's explore the potential options for the organization's governing bodies.
General Meeting of Members and Types of Membership
You may be wondering, what is the connection between types of membership and the organization's management? Well, it is quite relevant. Membership can be kept simple, or you can introduce the concept of associated membership and specify in the charter that the votes of associated members are advisory. So, what does advisory voting entail? It means that individuals can express their opinions, but there is no obligation for anyone to heed or consider these opinions when tallying the votes.
Advisory voting does not carry legal weight in the decision-making process, except, perhaps, a moral influence on those who possess voting rights, namely, the ordinary members of the organization. The highest governing body of an NGO is, in fact, the general assembly of its members. Therefore, if you wish to extend certain membership benefits to individuals without granting them voting rights, you can establish associated membership.
The Executive Body of an NGO
This is the same body as the one managing the current activities of the organization. It can be either collegial or individual.
An individual executive body may be referred to as:
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President
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Director
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Head of the organization
So, what does it depend on? Does it vary based on individual preferences?
Collegial bodies are often established in the form of:
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The Board
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Directorate
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Presidium
The choice of title is typically a matter of preference. The leader of a collegial body effectively serves as the head of the organization and is listed in the unified state register. They represent the organization before government agencies and in interactions with other legal and physical entities without the need for a power of attorney.
A President plus a Board or other combinations. When an organization wishes to acknowledge the significant contributions of an individual to its growth or a specific industry but doesn't intend to grant them real decision-making authority, they may establish a title like President. However, the organization can still maintain a Board and a Chairman of the Board who holds full authority. This analogy can be drawn to governmental structures, but it's important to note that there is a substantial distinction between the governance of a state and that of an NGO. The scope and scale do not often align to have both a Board led by a Chairman and a President with substantial executive powers.
The Supervisory Board. The appointment of a supervisory board is not obligatory if the organization has fewer than ten members. However, the law does not specify whether these members should be regular or associated members. Therefore, before considering the inclusion of associated membership and recruiting associated members, it's important to assess their number and determine whether a supervisory board is necessary, who should be its members, and who will lead it.
The supervisory board serves as a controlling body, conducting both planned and unscheduled inspections. Whom does it inspect? Primarily, it oversees the executive body. The supervisory board reports on its activities to the general assembly of organization members.
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