Governance Resources

Director’s Handbooks

Comprehensive Reference Guides for Effective Oversight

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All Governance Resources / Director’s Handbooks

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Governance Overview

Committees & Roles

Core Oversight Topics

Essential Handbooks for Director Leadership

Director’s Handbooks are must-haves for anyone sitting on a board. Topically focused, these guides cover everything you need to know about governance, strategic planning, risk management, oversight, and more. These guides present useable intelligence to bring you up to speed on key issues and make you ready for boardroom discussions.

Featured Report

Director's Handbook on Cyber-Risk Oversight Fifth Edition

Written and produced by the Internet Security Alliance and NACD, this handbook provides boards with an independently validated framework built on six oversight principles along with fifteen boardroom tools with best practices to enable boards to address board-level cyber-risk oversight issues.

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Explore All Recent Director’s Handbooks

Director's Handbook

Cyber-Risk Oversight

Investigate the fourth edition of the widely used NACD-ISA handbook, complete with resources from trusted partners in government, law enforcement, and private industry.
Director's Handbook

Navigating the First Year: A Guide for New Directors

A guide for any director embarking on their first year with a new board.
Director's Handbook

Digital Transformation: How to Unlock Innovation and Growth with Emerging Technologies—A GNDI Quick Guide

Realize your key role in guiding your organization toward successful transformation, to not only remain relevant but also thrive in the digital era.
Boardroom Tool

Questions for Directors to Ask About AI

Leverage this question framework to guide board discussions on AI to ensure proper board governance and oversight of this critical technology.
Governance Resources

Oversight of Corporate Sustainability - Second Edition

Updated trends, projections, and overviews of evolving standards to guide board oversight of corporate sustainability

Past Director’s Handbook Reports

Explore past editions to find more topics that remain relevant to the modern board.

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Directorʼs Handbook

The Growing Spotlight on Biodiversity: Why Boards Should Pay Attention

Understand the impacts that organizations have on biodiversity loss and how boards can align biodiversity targets with their broader climate goals.
Directorʼs Handbook

Getting Behind the Numbers

Designed to help directors understand the key concepts of financial reporting.
Directorʼs Handbook

The Family Business Board, Volume 1

Developed for leaders and owners of family businesses who are looking to help the company meet these challenges either by building a board.
Directorʼs Handbook

The Family Business Board, Volume 2

Building on the series’ previous volume, this handbook outlines a step-by-step approach to building the right board.
Directorʼs Handbook

A Guide for Directors of Privately Held Companies

Provides a full range of guidance for directors of private companies—from the interview that starts the journey of directorship to the ethical concerns that must guide it.
Directorʼs Handbook

A Practical Guide: Fundamentals for Corporate Directors

Intended as a primer for those who are new to the boardroom. Recognizes that the key determinants of successful directors tend to hold true for all types of firms.

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Credentials

NACD Directorship Certified^®

The premier designation for directors in the United States
Professional Development

Education & Events

Browse a selection of in-person and on-demand opportunities.
Local Programming

Chapters

Get involved with more than 20 local chapters nationwide.
Effectiveness

Board Advisory Services

NACD offers custom consulting services to maximize boardroom potential.

Final Days to Save $1,500 on NACD Directors Summit^™ 2026 Registration

October 11-14, 2026
The Gaylord National Harbor | Washington, DC Area