I do grant writing for nonprofits, public agencies, and some research-based businesses. Many if not most nonprofits only operate through the will of a single person (usually the executive director) or small number of people, and this can remain true even in nonprofits with eight-figure budgets. In HN terms, startups don't have strong boards either, because startups only have a small number of people working at or in them.
In addition, the more people there are on a board, the less likely it is to do anything, thus leaving the executive director to run the show.
So, as in many things in human life, there is the nominal, stated function, and the actual function. Board members are often cultivated for their ability to donate, not govern (or, sometimes, their ability to provide political cover). Volunteers are similar: https://seliger.com/2014/04/20/volunteers-nonprofits-really-....
I suspect the author of "Nonprofit Board Are Weird" knows or suspects much of this.
There have been any number of experiences in my life that I did not appreciate until decades later, sadly in some cases after the person who gave it has passed away.
Being a member of an exceptionally well run club in which I was one of the youngest members was one of them. This club wasn't strictly a volunteer group but it put on fund raisers twice a year which turned it into one.
Successful volunteer groups have a number of things. They have a leader with some sort of coherent idea of what we should be. They have a stream of new enthusiastic members that can muscle through plans and projects that are at risk for falling apart. And they have old members who are practically spectators, and whose primary contribution (besides perhaps being a reliable source of dues) is as story tellers. They know Chesterton's Fence. They can tell you why it's there. They remember who has helped the club out of scrapes, and whether they are likely to do so again or that charity has run out.
The oscillation in clubs comes when the leadership gets too involved, too invested, and either burns themselves out or starts alienating people. There's something to be said about keeping things a little at arm's length.
A group I used to work with went and turned themselves into a non-profit, and created a board. The board was half people who most of us had never heard of, that in theory could open doors, most of the rest were sort of honorary titles, bestowed on the more gregarious long term members but not necessarily the people I'd want in that position. I moved around then so I don't know how or if that board has strayed from the group culture before they formed.
I do agree that many non profits function because of the will of the ED / CEO and a small group of staff.
Volunteers are always interesting - and depends on the board.
Some boards become obsessed with adding people to the board. Many boards have little to no on boarding process. It’s kind of like being hired for a part time job, and then being told that you come into work once a month/quarter/ annually.
(This is an exaggeration to make the point).
Many times the most functional boards are those that embrace working on governance and fundraising.
I agree 100% about adding board members for the ability to donate, or political cover. The right board members can add instant credibility to your organization.
Unrelated — grant writing can become very hard work! I am glad you are helping organizations navigate that process.
In addition, the more people there are on a board, the less likely it is to do anything, thus leaving the executive director to run the show.
The board is often for show. Yes, the same may be true of many for-profit businesses, but the degree is much higher at nonprofits. Often, the board is there for signaling purposes: https://seliger.com/2012/03/25/why-fund-organizations-throug.... Nonprofits are more like businesses than most people realize: https://seliger.com/2012/09/02/why-nonprofits-are-more-like-....
So, as in many things in human life, there is the nominal, stated function, and the actual function. Board members are often cultivated for their ability to donate, not govern (or, sometimes, their ability to provide political cover). Volunteers are similar: https://seliger.com/2014/04/20/volunteers-nonprofits-really-....
I suspect the author of "Nonprofit Board Are Weird" knows or suspects much of this.