Is a nonprofit's board, the proxy owner, the final judge of all things related to the nonprofit?
Perhaps the answer is "no, not really". Take for example the Chronicle of Philanthropy item about the New York AIDS organization whis is spending $389,000 a month on rent in Manhattan's West Side. "Whew" you will likely say but from the gate, the media, the Chronicle in this case, is effectively judging the decisions, policies and practices of the organization's board and management. Now, with the article in circulation, donors and prospective donors will judge as well. The result, correctly or incorrectly, is likely to be either a) the organization/board will be forced to publicly explain itself and/or b) the organization will have to find a more "apparently" modest home. But, wouldn't you expect that the board has already and maybe on multiple occasions, had this conversation and come to a resolution itself that it is doing what needs to be done? Nonetheless, the lesson is that a nonprofit's board really may not have the final word on its matters. And maybe that's ok, but, maybe not.