Not sure how to choose members when forming your nonprofit’s board of directors? With this guide’s 10-step process, you won’t have to worry about that.
Starting a nonprofit organization is definitely worth doing, but it can also be daunting.
Firstly, one crucial aspect that nonprofit founders must consider is selecting the right board of directors. Your board plays a pivotal role in guiding your organization’s mission and, indeed, ensuring its success.
That’s why today, we’ll explore ten steps to help nonprofit founders choose an effective board of directors in the United States.
1. Understand the Role of a Nonprofit Board
Before selecting your board members, it’s crucial to understand the role they play. Familiarize yourself with how the organizational body functions and what it’s necessary.
Your board is, in effect, responsible for providing governance and strategic oversight to your organization. In fact, it’s responsible for ensuring it remains aligned with its mission and values.
Keeping these details in mind will be significantly beneficial in helping you get a better idea of who can fill those roles the best.
2. Define Your Nonprofit Organization’s Needs
Consider the specific needs of your nonprofit. Then consider who could help you meet those needs.
Are you seeking individuals with not just financial expertise but also fundraising prowess, legal knowledge, or connections within your target community?
To get you on the right track, you can focus on individuals based on the following:
- Skills
- Expertise
- Experience
- Connections
- Motivations
- Commitment
- Resourcefulness
- Attitude
3. Diversity Matters
A diverse board brings different perspectives and strengths to the table. Rather, you won’t get anything of value if everyone has the same opinion or thought on everything.
You can base this diversity on several factors, but among the most common are:
- Gender
- Ethnicity
- Age
- Background
- Education level
- Accomplishments
- Social status
- Religion
Doing this can help your organization make significantly more well-rounded decisions and better serve its community.
4. Engage Your Network
Reach out to your personal and professional networks for potential board members.
Consider individuals who also share your passion for the cause and have a strong commitment to your organization’s mission.
If you don’t have a personal network, consulting with professionals is also always an option. They can help get you in touch with individuals with the right connections.
5. Leverage Online Platforms
Online platforms like LinkedIn, BoardSource, and VolunteerMatch can help you identify and connect with potential board members who are interested in nonprofit leadership.
With that said, you also need to be extremely careful if you choose this route.
Extensive background checks would be highly recommended. In addition, the same goes for multiple interviews where you ask pertinent questions
6. Seek Legal Guidance
Being part of a nonprofit’s board of directors does come with a lot of responsibilities. Among them is an awareness of certain legal strings that they need to be familiar with.
As such, you need to ensure that your board members understand their legal obligations.
Consulting with an attorney experienced in nonprofit law can be invaluable in this regard. This needs to be done before you even think about launching your nonprofit.
7. Develop a Board Recruitment Process
As with everything, finding people to fill your board of director membership is easier with a system in place. You can establish a formal recruitment process, for example.
This can include:
- Interviews
- Reference checks
- Background screenings
Make sure prospective board members understand their roles and responsibilities before they commit.
8. Evaluate Alignment to Your Nonprofit
Ensure that potential board members are aligned with your organization’s mission and values. It would be pointless to recruit people who don’t believe in what you’re doing.
Their passion for your cause is essential for their dedication and effectiveness.
With that said, you also need to be cautious about taking on overzealous individuals. Commitment is one thing, but you don’t want to invite conflict by recruiting overly argumentative people.
9. Promote Transparency and Accountability
One of the most important functions of a board of directors is accountability. All members are responsible for maintaining an environment of honesty and fairness.
As such, having a board that would foster a culture of transparency and accountability would be the goal.
Likewise, you need to clearly define expectations, roles, and reporting mechanisms to keep everyone on the same page. This ensures that all recruited members understand what they are agreeing to.
10. Regularly Assess and Refresh Your Nonprofit Board
No board of directors will remain the same forever. In fact, you shouldn’t consider your board selection a one-time task.
Regularly assess your board’s performance and be open to refreshing it as your organization grows and evolves, even more so.
You can add more members if needed or reduce the number of seats if they become redundant. Running a nonprofit is a learning process, so don’t be afraid to mix things up if it becomes necessary.
Ready to Get Started?
Selecting the right board of directors for your nonprofit organization in the United States is a critical step toward achieving your mission.
Take the time to identify individuals who are passionate about your cause. Indeed, they should bring diverse skills to the table and should be committed to the long-term success of your nonprofit.
With a strong and dedicated board, your organization will be further better equipped to make a lasting impact on the communities you serve.
Want to learn more about starting a nonprofit organization? Check out this step-by-step guide for a smooth and stress-free process!