To those who are unfamiliar with the organizational structure of nonprofits, being a board member seems like an honorary position with no meaningful responsibilities. In actuality, as any nonprofit staffer knows, board engagement is crucial to an organization’s ability to successfully pursue its mission. Conversely, having a board that’s uninvested in the organization’s mission can be incredibly detrimental, so selecting board members is a task that carries a lot of weight.
1. The Composition of a Nonprofit Board
A nonprofit’s board should be representative of its stakeholders and their interests. When considering potential new board members, it’s important to evaluate if their appointment would be reflective of the groups your organization services. It’s similarly critical that all board members are values-aligned with the organization and wholeheartedly believe in its mission. If board members don’t share the same values or care about their nonprofit’s mission, this will translate to a lack of investment in their role. When board members aren’t invested, they aren’t effective and can impede the progress of the entire nonprofit organization.
2. How to Choose a New Board Member
When selecting new board members, it’s important to evaluate the skills and competencies possessed by the existing board members in order to determine what gaps the departing board member(s) will be leaving behind. Review the various responsibilities for each role on the board and its committees to determine what skills are needed to execute those responsibilities. Then, honestly assess what each current board member brings to the table. This will show you where there are gaps in ability. Use the results of this evaluation to assess the suitability of all candidates.
It’s also important that all board members have certain attributes and qualifications independent of the collective. Being on a nonprofit board is a leadership position and certain traits position people to succeed in leadership roles. Evaluate each potential board member for the characteristics and qualifications that are most important to succeed on your organization’s board. These might include:
- Critical thinking skills
- Independence
- Flexibility
- Expertise
-
Availability
3. Advertise Your Board Opening
In the past, nonprofit board members were often chosen purely on the basis that they were referred to the position by an existing board member. Today, we must treat selecting a board member much like we would treat hiring for a job. Recruiting efforts are valuable to the search, as are referrals, but these tactics alone are often insufficient. Don’t be afraid to advertise your opening on social media, your website, or local publications. Posting the opening allows for candidates to self-select, meaning those that respond to your postings are more likely to be values-aligned and invested in your mission.
Spave: A Values-Aligned Partner
Spave is the first all-in-one financial wholeness app that makes it as easy to give as it does to save. We partner with credit unions and nonprofits to support communities and causes. As a nonprofit, partnering with Spave makes it easy for your supporters to donate more regularly and more generously. It also gives you the opportunity to create new supporters and spread your mission. If you’re interested in working with Spave, contact our team today.
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