bylaws can be written to systemically establish how things will be done in an organization to establish constructive norms.
creation of friends groups, affinity groups, and giving circles within the foundation.
As I shared with 501(c)Services (2019a), a park foundation’s culture has to emphasize accountability, transparency, responsiveness, diversity, equity, inclusivity, accessibility, efficiency, and effectiveness. Board members should “focus on creating a culture within the scope of (the foundation’s) vision, mission, and core values….” (Schaumleffel, 2019a).
Getting Off to the Right Start
In January 2021, I shared how important it is to create a culture of fraud prevention and financial control by including bylaws that ensure compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (e.g., conflict of interest; document retention; whistleblower). The bylaws serve as a location for setting a high standard of adherence to the Independent Sector’s Principles of Good Governance and Ethical Practice (2021), as well as the Association of Fundraising Professional’s Code of Ethical Standards (2015) and Donor Bill of Rights (2014). Well-written bylaws can breathe life into a park foundation’s culture by outlining its relationship to the public agency, and by establishing and activating a board and committee structure for financial control (e.g., fundraising, finance, investment, audit, risk & liability management, and insurance) (see Schaumleffel, 2015, 2017). Detailed bylaws can establish a path for the
Consider these tips: • Don’t download bylaws from the internet, swap out the organizational name, make a few changes, and then approve them. • Ensure your bylaws are consistent with the MOU between the park foundation and public agency (Schaumleffel, 2014). • Write robust bylaws, so that all operational and governance information is in one spot. • Require the Board to review and consider bylaw changes on an annual basis. • Require the Board to file updated bylaws with the Secretary of State. • Follow your bylaws (Carter, 2010)! Park foundations are a place to hone and invoke the power of philanthropy! Following these tips when writing bylaws will aid in establishing a healthy organizational culture that operates in a mission-focused, financially responsible way to meet the needs of those people and communities it chooses to serve (Schaumleffel, 2019c, 2020a, 2020b).
Author Biography Dr. Nathan A. Schaumleffel, CPRP, CNP, CFRM, CVA, CYSA is Proprietor and Senior Consultant of Driven Strategic LLC, a company that specializes in consulting for nonprofit & public organizations, public lands organizations & partners, parks & recreation, park foundations, friends groups, conservancies, outdoorrelated organizations, and university engagement. Through Driven Strategic LLC, he also serves as the Education & Training Services Consultant and as the Consulting Partner to the National Association of Park Foundations. He serves on the faculty of the Park Foundation School at the Oglebay National Training Center in partnership with North Carolina State University. Dr. Schaumleffel also serves as Associate Professor and Campus/Executive Director of the nationally awardwinning Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Certification Program at Indiana State University, as well as coordinates the Recreation Management & Youth Leadership curriculum. He holds a Ph.D. in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, as well as an M.S.Ed. in the Administration of Recreation and Park Systems and a B.S. in Recreation Program Services both from Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he was named the Recreation Alumnus of the Year in 2014.
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Park foundations are a place to hone and invoke the power of philanthropy! Following these tips when writing bylaws will aid in establishing a healthy organizational culture that operates in a mission-focused, financially responsible way to meet the needs of those people and communities it chooses to serve. 30 • Colorado Byline | Summer 2021
