Nonprofit Board members serve as stewards of the assets of an organization and provide foresight, oversight and insight. They are often compared with Crows who sit on the crow’s nest, looking for rainbows and storm clouds. They do not have the responsibility of daily operations but they need to be able to look at the bigger picture.
No matter if your nonprofit is established or just starting out https://workboardroom.com/how-to-improve-board-governance/ there are numerous sources to help identify good board members. One of the most effective ways to find board members is to make contact with existing volunteers. Check out your current events and committees. Also look for those who are likely to be a great leader. You can also use social media and newsletters as a way to advertise board positions to your community.
Search job boards such as Impact Opportunity or Idealist for nonprofits and mission-driven organizations. Also, search within your professional fields to find people who are involved with nonprofits through their industry associations or companies that give to them. Reach out to those who appear to be good candidates and inquire if they’re interested in joining your board.
Be aware that board members who are new as well as every other employee, must be given a thorough orientation in order to ensure they are aware of their duties. This includes a set of clear expectations regarding meeting attendance, schedules, fundraising, the responsibilities of board members for which they are chosen (e.g. budget management) as well as other governance guidelines.