Approved/revised: September 5, 2012
The Policy Governance approach is a model of governance developed by John Carver in the 1990s, which emphasizes the board's role in setting direction and establishing policies for an organization.
The approach is based on a set of principles that guide the board's work, which include:
1. Focusing on governing rather than managing the organization.
2. Defining and communicating the organization's vision, mission, and values.
3. Setting policies that guide the organization's activities, including strategic, financial, and operational plans.
4. Holding the President accountable for implementing policies and achieving organizational goals.
5. Monitoring and evaluating the organization's performance against established policies and goals.
The Policy Governance approach aims to create a clear separation between the board's governance role and the Presidents operational role. The Policy Governance model defines four board policy categories: Ends, Executive Limitations, Board-President Relationship, and Governance Process.