I was recently part of an online discussion for this question.Excellent question. It is my experience that many NPO Boards lack the experience to know what their actual responsibilities and liabilities are. So as ED’s/Consultants it is our job to help them access that information. I say “access” because it causes them to do the work for themselves. This is an excellent thing because both you and the Board can see which members are really there to do the work that needs to be done. This can then “filter out” Board Members who are not really active in any plan. So once you have them “educated” and “committed” you then once again give them the “access” to learning the value and process of having a strategic plan. Remember that as ED you are NOT a Board Member (only ex-officio), you are an employee or contractor who reports TO the Board. It is their job do to this work. However, you can be the one to help them along by providing opportunities for learning, vision and dreams from your employed/contracted team (I believe a strategic plan must include the entire team, otherwise there is no buy in), and in a gentle way keep them accountable for and to that plan, just as it is their job to keep you accountable for your part in that plan. It’s all about TEAM WORK. Too often the ED is left doing the job of the Board. Take the initiative and give the Board the opportunity to see how important these things are. Those who really care will step up to the plate. Those who don’t will be weeded out naturally and when you have a Board who is really on “board” you will have momentum like you can never imagine.