GOVERN for IMPACT is creating a new fund person in honour of a very special person to the GOVERN for IMPACT community.  A person who created a series of key concepts and principles which work together to form the governance system we know as “Policy Governance®”.

This fund is to recognize, appreciate, respect, admire, and celebrate the life of John Carver.  John was for many, our friend, colleague, our teacher, inspirer, and our mentor.  He was an extraordinary thinker and a generous “sharer” of his ideas, constructs, and ultimately the Policy Governance system.

John was an author noted for his development of the Policy Governance system for Boards of Directors and their organizations. Carver noted that this model is the only systematic theory of governance. He was an adjunct professor in the Institute for Nonprofit Organizations at the University of Georgia School of Social Work. Sadly, John passed away in August 2024 at the age of 86.  The international governance community is still mourning this loss.

Early in his career, Carver searched for a reliable guide to lead the work of a Board. His research turned up little on the effective role and processes for the Board of Directors. John noticed that Board Members would often wonder about what the Board's job is and where the line lies that distinguishes the Board's job from that of the Chief Executive Officer. The Policy Governance system clarifies this separation by having the Board explicitly state the Board's and CEO's jobs in a set of written Board policies (hence the name Policy Governance).

Born in Chattanooga, TN, John earned his Ph.D. from Emory University. Early in his career, he managed various mental health organizations, which sparked his interest in governance and the role of governing Boards. In the 1970s, he developed the Policy Governance® Model, a groundbreaking theoretical framework for Board governance. Throughout his career, John and his wife Miriam taught, facilitated, and coached Boards and consultants worldwide. He authored five books and hundreds of articles and monographs, making him one of the most prolific writers in this field.

John Carver’s Policy Governance® Model employs a systems approach to Board governance, encompassing the entire organization. When effectively implemented, this still revolutionary model not only transforms Board practices but also fosters a culture of accountability throughout the entire organization.

Carver developed the Policy Governance system and registered its trademark. He has permitted others to utilize the Policy Governance term as long as people using the term practice consistently with the Policy Governance principles and approach. Each practice application of the Policy Governance model is specific to the organization being governed. The Policy Governance model has universal meaning, and can be adopted in very different company settings, including for-profit and for-impact organizations. In every application of Policy Governance, the Board represents the ownership/careholdership of the organization as it defines the good that the organization is to achieve for the beneficiaries and at a cost or worth.

Dr. John Carver and his wife, Miriam Carver, have trained several hundred practitioners, including consultants at their Policy Governance Academy. Carver wrote several books, including Boards That Make a Difference, with updated editions, probably the best known of his works. His book Reinventing Your Board, published in a new edition in 2006, is probably the easiest for a beginner to understand.

John generously shared the Policy Governance System, his vision for its application, and his knowledge and insight as to its rationale.  He encouraged and challenged practitioners and Board advisors to dig deeper, think better, and be brave in governing well.  Those who have studied this approach to governance will forever be grateful for what John shared.  John and Miriam’s work has truly had an international impact on the world.

John Carver made profound contributions to what is known as modern Board governance. His legacy as a governance author, researcher, teacher, and consultant has significantly shaped both the theory and practice of Board governance worldwide.

Today, the Policy Governance® Model is widely practiced around the world, and it has significantly influenced how Boards operate. In a time when many seek to “decolonize” Board practices, Carver’s framework offers an effective method for establishing clear role delineation, fostering a Board culture informed by its community, and creating a purpose-focused, performance-driven and values-oriented environment.

John Carver was a visionary thinker and innovator. His dream was to see more rational governance prevail over irrational governance practices. His legacy will continue to inspire Boards to transcend mere oversight and become true leaders of purpose and impact within their organizations.

About the Dr. John Carver Memorial Fund-for the Future of Governance-
This fund has been established by GOVERN for IMPACT to achieve three primary goals, including:

1. To honour the governance work and life of Dr. John Carver, beloved husband and partner of Miriam Carver.
2. To continue to build the GOVERN for IMPACT Policy Governance Proficiency Program to enhance and modernize content, to ensure case example and applied practice relevance, to enhance use of program technology, and to promote engagement in the program of motivated, informed students and highly qualified faculty. The fund is open for contributions, and the funding will continue to be developed.  (Please see the report in the October 2025 GOVERN Update newsletter for an update on the fund.)
3. To build a legacy of support to enable the governance excellence education, inspired by Policy Governance, of young professionals to build the next generation of excellent governance practitioners, leaders, researchers, Board Members, consultants, and Board administrators.