Approving policies is one of a nonprofit board's jobs. Ensuring that the policies are a) compliant with federal, state, local laws and the organization's bylaws and b) enforced uniformly are two ways that the board is ever-present to ensure that policies are correct and observed. Strong and enforced policies are part of a nonprofit's culture.
I offer all these positions having been reminded that not all nonprofit boards do their job as evidenced by what is believed to have happened and may be continuing to happen at Prevention Point Philadelphia. According to the story in the Billy Penn newsletter (clever name - trust you "get" it), transphobia and sexual harassment are the norm - the culture - at the nonprofit that once started as a needle exchange.
Now the survivors of offensive and illegal acts have made known their story that will hopefully be told so that a swift cultural change can occur. But Prevention Point Philadelphia is a case example that serves as a reminder that cultures like this are harmful and violate what are likely cited as the organization's core values. Equally important, while there is no reference to the governing body of this organization, there is no doubt in my mind that it is the board that has most importantly failed to provide oversight which at this point can't be an unknown story (it is after all printed in the local paper) and nor has it stepped in to conduct an investigation and take action on the part of the organization and employees.
For shame, for shame.