Members of the former Arviat Film Society, Global Dignity Canada, and the Our People Our Climate project held a knowledge sharing session with the Minneapolis College of Art and Design at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
Nonprofit roles
People sometimes assume the Chair of a board is the “boss,” but the role is a lot less about power and a lot more about keeping things moving. A good Chair is basically the person who makes sure the board can do its job without getting bogged down or lost in the weeds.
Most of the Chair’s work shows up during meetings. They set the agenda, check in with folks beforehand, and try to make sure everyone walks into the room knowing what’s going on. When the meeting starts, they’re the one steering the conversation—helping quieter people get heard, slowing things down when discussions get messy, and nudging the group back on track when it drifts too far off-topic. They’re also the one who has to deal with those awkward procedural moments—motions, votes, points of order—so everyone else doesn’t have to think about them.
But a Chair isn’t there to make decisions for everyone. Their job is to help the board figure things out together. They run the vote; they don’t cast the deciding word (unless the bylaws make them a tie-breaker). Most of their influence comes from tone-setting—how they guide conversations, how they encourage teamwork, and how they help the group stay focused on the organization’s mission.
Outside the meeting room, the Chair ends up being the board’s main coordinator. They check in with the vice-chair, work with the secretary and treasurer to keep things organized, and often act as the bridge between the board and staff or volunteers. If the organization needs someone to show up at a community event or sign a document on the board’s behalf, it’s usually the Chair who steps in—not because they’re in charge, but because they’re the designated point person.
At its core, being a Chair is about creating a space where people can do their best thinking together. The role works best when the Chair leads with steadiness instead of ego, listens more than they talk, and keeps the board focused on what really matters. When that happens, the job becomes almost invisible, and everything else just works better.
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