In his latest book, nonprofit expert Doug Eadie argues that many of the nation's estimated 10 million nonprofit board members fall short of their leadership potential because they are consigned to a passive, review-and-approve role, participating only at a surface level in decision making about the high-stakes issues facing their organizations.

A volunteer Governing Board sits at the top of each of the country's estimated 1.5 million nonprofit organizations (NPOs). Many of the NPOs they govern provide critical community-based services in health, housing, education, and the arts. "All Americans have a huge stake in these boards effectively carrying out their governing responsibility," Eadie says.

In Meeting the Governing Challenge, he shows how nonprofits that thrive in difficult times apply his High-Impact Governing Model to help transform well-qualified, but passive, boards into dynamic governing bodies that help provide a clear strategic vision, actively monitor performance, and ensure that their organization has the resources to carry out its mission. Meeting the Governing Challenge is available online at ($24.50).

"High-impact" boards, the author asserts, work collaboratively as a full partner with the CEO on the high-stakes challenges facing their organization. As a result, they feel a stronger sense of ownership of their governing work, contribute to better decision making, and gain stability and strength from their close partnership with the CEO.

Meeting the Governing Challenge is a practical, easy-to-adopt guide for restoring effective governance as the preeminent role of nonprofit boards. In six concise chapters, the author shows how to apply these key elements of his High-Impact Governing Model:

-- A board-savvy CEO who views the board as a precious asset that should be fully deployed in strengthening and growing the organization.

-- A detailed governing mission for the board and carefully designed governing processes.

-- Well-designed board standing committees that function as "governing engines."

-- And self-management and support programs that help board members carry out their governing functions.

Eadie is president of Doug Eadie & Company, based in Oldsmar, FL. His previous books include High-Impact Governing in a Nutshell and the award-winning Extraordinary Board Leadership.