How Do I Get My Policies Written?

Drafting policies and procedures for a nonprofit or religious organization can be challenging.  Here are some common questions:

    1. Where do you start? 
    2. Can you find a good model policy somewhere? 
    3. What should be included? 
    4. Are there laws that this policy should address? 
    5. Are there certain risks this policy is supposed to address?
    6. How do you write a good policy anyway?

The following chart summarizes the pros and cons of the five most common methods available to nonprofit leaders to get their policies written, revised, and up-to-date:

Method Pros Cons
Copy another Organization’s policies
  1. Don’t have to re-invent the wheel
  2. Save time
  3. Cost: free
  1. May not reflect your organization's history, culture, circumstances or special risks
  2. May not reflect the requirements of your state's laws
  3. May not address your operational risks
  4. May be a bad policy
  5. You don’t really understand the policy or if you even need it
Purchase model policies on a disk or on the internet
  1. Don’t have to re-invent the wheel
  2. Often well-written models by experts
  3. Save time
  4. Inexpensive

 
  1. You don’t really understand the policy or if you even need it
  2. May not address your organization’s culture or structure
  3. May not incorporate your state laws
  4. May not address your unique operational risks
  5. Available options may be confusing
On-line policy training and resources

(click here to learn more)
  1. Learn how to draft from experts
  2. Available when you need it
  3. Receive models with explanation of how to use them
  4. Forced to dig in and make the policy “your own”
  5. Relatively low cost
  1. Can’t talk through issues and questions you may have
  2. Requires some drafting work on your part
Attend a conference

(click here to learn more)
  1. Often learn from experts
  2. Learn why you need the policy and how to implement it
  3. Learn what laws apply
  4. Often receive good models
  5. Can be relatively inexpensive
  1. You need a policy when you need it. 
  2. Conference presenters may not cover policy drafting when addressing a subject.      
  3. Time and expense of going to a conference may be prohibitive.
Hire a consultant/attorney

(click here to learn more)
  1. High quality
  2. Expert understands best practices
  3. Customized for your organization
  4. Incorporate appropriate laws
  5. You don’t need to draft, only review and give input
  1. Most expensive option.

Learn more about RMnet™ for Nonprofits

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