How to Recruit Board Members for a Non-Profit
The board of a non-profit organization plays a huge role in its success. Perhaps the most important responsibilities of board members are determining the organization’s mission and purpose and selecting the organization’s Executive Director. These are significant tasks, but their responsibilities do not end there. Board members must also:
- Ensure effective organization planning.
- Ensure adequate resources and manage those resources effectively.
- Determine, monitor, and strengthen the organization’s programs and services.
- Enhance the organization’s public standing.
- Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability.
- Recruit and orient new board members, and assess board performance.
Unfortunately, finding the right board members for non-profits isn’t easy. This is especially true if a board is looking for members with specialized skills. However, it’s not impossible to find great board members if one looks in the right places.
Determine How Many Board Members are Needed for the Non-Profit
How many board members does a non-profit need to have? Experts say that having seven to fifteen board members is ideal; however, a small non-profit may not need this many members while a large organization may need more than fifteen to operate effectively. Existing board members should consider future goals and programs, the current board’s strengths and weaknesses, and other factors to determine how many new board members should be recruited.
Obtain Recommendations from Existing Board Members
Existing board members can be a great source of referrals for new board members. They have worked with current employees and volunteers, know the non-profit’s needs and are passionate about helping a non-profit reach its goals. Naturally, suggestions for potential new board members will still need to be vetted to ensure they are the right fit for the board; even so, asking current board members for suggestions can jumpstart the process of finding new board members.
Consider Volunteers, Employees, Donors, and Others Connected to the Organization
There are several advantages of choosing new non-profit board members from a pool of current volunteers and donors. Those who have been involved in a non-profit for some time will be familiar with the organization’s methods and goals. They will likely adjust to their new role with ease, and they’ll know at least some of the people they will be working with. Current members/donors are also familiar with the organization’s culture and way of operating, which makes the transition process smooth and problem-free. Furthermore, current organization members and/or donors have likely been vetted, making them “safe” picks.
On the other hand, there are good reasons to consider those who aren’t currently involved in the organization. New people can bring in new ideas and ways of doing things that can revitalize the organization and enable it to reach its goals faster and more effectively than would have otherwise been possible. If the current non-profit isn’t diverse enough, bringing in diverse board members can strengthen the board by providing well-rounded leadership.
Use Social Media to Identify Potential Board Members
Reaching out to unknown individuals via social media can be a scary process. However, it may be the best course of action for several reasons. If a board cannot find a member with the specialized skills it needs from within the organization, then reaching out to potential new members is the only option. If the organization is moving in a new direction, then it may need to bring in new people to help the non-profit reach its long-term goals.
LinkedIn can be a great source of information about potential board members, as users can search the platform for individuals with particular qualifications and skills. Furthermore, the platform can be used to connect with potential board members and get to know them before offering them a position on the board. Even if the individual in question isn’t able to fill the role, he or she may be able to refer the current board to potential candidates with a similar skill set.
Knowing how to recruit board members for a non-profit organization is important. Sometimes a non-profit needs to add new members to a board in order to take on new projects; in other instances, current board members need to step down and be replaced. As the need for one or more new board members can arise at any time, keeping a list of potential members updated and handy will enable the current board to select new members with relative ease, bring the new members onboard without undue delay, and create a seamless transition process that will empower the non-profit to reach its goals.
Disclaimer: Avisar Chartered Professional Accountant’s blog deals with a number of complex issues in a concise manner; it is recommended that accounting, legal or other appropriate professional advice should be sought before acting upon any of the information contained therein. Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this post, no individual or organization involved in either the preparation or distribution of this post accepts any contractual, tortious, or any other form of liability for its contents or for any consequences arising from its use.
