Most people recognize that the vast majority of board members of charitable nonprofits are unpaid volunteers. In Minnesota, nonprofit Boards are given authority to fix compensation, usually via articles or bylaws.The short answer is "Yes, in Minnesota it is legal to pay board members, provided your association documents do not prohibit it." In Minnesota, legally you need to have at least three board members, including a Chair and Treasurer, that hold a minimum of one meeting per year. The short answer is no. How do nonprofits pay for their board members to attend meetings? Are they allowed to participate via conference call? Boards also are responsible for evaluating and determining compensation for the executive director. The nonprofit founder sits on the board and is NOT paid for the time they put into the organization. Fill out our Board Connector board service application to apply now.