Nonprofit Board Members are responsible for the assets of an organization and provide oversight, insight and foresight. They are often compared with crows sitting on the crow’s nest, watching for rainbows and storm clouds. While they’re not responsible for the day-today activities, they need to be aware of the bigger picture and understand what’s needed to bring things into motion.
No matter if your non-profit is a seasoned or new start-up, there are many resources available for helping to identify good board members. One of the best ways to find board members www.workboardroom.com/legal-responsibilities-of-nonprofit-board-members/ is to make contact with existing volunteers. Take a look at your current committees and events. Also look for those who could be great leadership. You can also utilize your newsletters and social media to advertise your board opportunities to your community.
Search job boards such as Impact Opportunity or Idealist for non-profits and mission-driven organizations. Also, you can search within your professional fields to find those who have connections to nonprofits through their industry associations or businesses that give to them. If you spot some people who appear to be ideal candidates contact them and see whether they’re interested in serving on your board.
Remember that new board members as well as all staff members, must be given a thorough orientation to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities. This includes a clear set of expectations regarding attendance at meetings, schedules, fundraising, the responsibilities of board members for which they are chosen (e.g. budget management) as well as other policies on governance.