The Board of the Fresno, California nonprofit Central Valley Regional Center has rescinded bonuses it approved to "adjust" the salaries of its employees. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the organization distributed $500,000 in bonuses to its 350 administrative employees.
Now we aren't talking huge bonuses, about $1600 average. But, there was such a public outcry, the Board decided to not ok the bonuses, although, many of the employees have already spent their cut. I suppose this will then affect their salaries.
So, the good news: the nonprofit's Board took responsibility for the decision to give and then, not to give. The bad news: maybe the Board wasn't as fully informed about the possible consequences of their "to give" action as might have been helpful. Or maybe they were and they decided to go ahead. Either way -- I'm sure this wasn't the outcome they wanted.
This incident still provides some learning for a nonprofit Board -- be clear about your goals, be clear about what can affect these goals. And, take responsibility when results don't live up to your expectations. Kudos to the Center on this count.