| The Governance of the Noble Foundation |
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by Mike Cawley |
I would like to share a few things about the ultimate governance of our organization, which is done by our Board of Trustees. Specifically, I want to discuss board composition, board commitment and board accommodation of family unity.
Board Composition
Lloyd Noble, our founder, and his first wife, Vivian Bilby Noble, had three children – Sam, Ed and Ann. Our bylaws authorize the appointment of three trustees (who do not have to be "family" members) from each of these three families to serve on the Board of Trustees. Trustees so elected are called family trustees. The board may also elect non-family trustees, of which we currently have four. But our bylaws contemplate that a majority of the trustees will always be "family" trustees.
 Lloyd Noble, founder of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation |
We also elect advisory, non-voting trustees from time to time. An advisory trustee could be a family or a non-family member. Sometimes an advisory trustee position is used as an introduction/training tool for a young family member who may be elected to serve in the future as a trustee. An advisory trustee position could be utilized to appoint a person with operational or mission-specific expertise to advise our Board of Trustees on particular matters. Currently, we have two advisory trustees: one is a family member, and one is a non-family member.
Lloyd Noble created the Noble Foundation. We have endeavored to create a board structure that will accommodate the ongoing leadership of the Noble Foundation by the founder's family.
Board Commitment
In the United States, the ultimate governance and direction of a corporation is determined by its board of directors. The board of directors has ultimate powers. The board may terminate the corporation; the board may change the mission and purpose of the corporation; the board may transfer the assets of the corporation, etc. Suffice it to say that the Board of Trustees is empowered to generally accomplish whatever it desires to do.
I have been associated with this organization for more than 20 years. During that time, I have continually been impressed with the dedication of this family board to the mission of its founder. That has not always been the case with other private foundations in this country.
There exist many examples where a foundation's mission and purpose have drastically changed subsequent to the death of its founder. That is not the case at the Noble Foundation. On the contrary, our Board of Trustees is sensitive to the values of our founder and consistently discusses the founder's thoughts, actions and desires in connection with board decision-making. I find that commitment, dedication and loyalty to the founder's mission and purpose to be genuinely refreshing.
Board Accommodation of Family Unity
Finally, a private foundation provides a unique tool and opportunity to direct families across generations and promote family growth throughout the years.
Serving on the Board of Trustees of the Noble Foundation has afforded Lloyd Noble's family the opportunity to gather together five times a year – whether they wanted to or not – to make important decisions about the operations to be conducted by the Noble Foundation and grants to be made to outside charitable organizations. Conducting Noble Foundation business brings the Noble family together from different parts of the country and, in some circumstances, different philosophical feelings, to focus on a common mission – benefiting mankind through the operations and grants of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.
So I conclude these thoughts with my feeling that the success and recognition enjoyed by the Noble Foundation today are a result of many years of diligent thought, courageous decision-making and willingness to spurn personal accolades in favor of founding purpose by our Board of Trustees.