This document provides guidance on recruiting effective nonprofit board members. It outlines a seven step process for board recruitment: 1) establishing a governance committee, 2) defining expectations, 3) researching prospects, 4) creating recruitment documents, 5) outreach, 6) selection, and 7) orientation. Key qualities for board members include commitment to the mission, fundraising ability, and diversity. The presentation emphasizes identifying strengths and needs, engaging in constructive dialogue, and quickly orienting and engaging new members.

1. Recruiting Effective Board Members
A Presentation at the
Support Center for Nonprofit Management
Growth for Good
Building Strength in Organizations
January 16, 2013
www.GrowthforGood.com
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About Us
Growth for Good provides strategic planning, fundraising, government
relations, marketing and communications expertise so that organizations can
focus on what they do best: good work.
Our goal is to strengthen our clients’ abilities to effectively and efficiently serve
their missions. We have worked with many relevant non-profits, including:
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Today, you will learn:
• How to identify the strengths and deficits of your current board
• Strategies for engaging in constructive dialogue about
recruiting new members
• The seven essential steps to Board recruitment
• Effective ways to quickly orient and engage new board members
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2. “Getting the right people on the bus”
“The main point is to first get the
right people on the bus (and the
wrong people off the bus) before
you figure out where to drive it.”
~ Jim Collins, Good to Great
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Who will be on your Leadership Team?
You need a posse, not a lone ranger!
High-performing organizations share authority.
Everyone becomes a community builder.
So, who is on the Governance team?
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Building a Leadership Team
Realizing Potential
“Show me a nonprofit staff that drives fundraising and
does not fully engage the board of directors, and
I will show you an institution suffering a
severe case of unrealized potential.”
~ Reynold Levy, author of Yours for the Asking, and
President of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
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3. Who is on your Board?
Consider your Leadership Mix
• Founder, family & friends (follow the leader) vs.
governing board (following vs. leading)
• Team Matrix – diverse skill sets,
management styles and backgrounds
Activity #1: Board Matrix
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Important Qualities of Board Chair (and all Board members!)
Integrity
Independence
Mature Confidence
Corporate Manners
A Sense of Context
Courage
Commitment
Source: Howard Berman, Making a Difference
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Ideal Qualities of a Board Member
Directors should be considered based on:
• Commitment to the mission and interest in the programming
• Ability to influence others
• Willingness to give at a personally significant level
– should be in the Board Members’ top three charities
• Eagerness to actively fundraise
• Past board experience
• Enthusiasm to share professional skills/background
• Diversity
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4. Critical Factors & Best Practices
• Prior board experience is the best predictor of a person’s ability
to be an effective board member in an organization
• Increasing the size of the board to 25+ can help to ensure the
board reflects the diversity of your community
• Every board member and donor must
have the ABC’s of Giving
ACTIVITY #2: ABC Hangman
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ABC’s of Giving:
• Ability
• Belief
• Connection
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Committee Structures
• Executive
• Finance
• Governance/Nominating/Board Development
• Resource Development
• Program
• Facilities
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5. Breakout within Committees
Chair: Big picture visionary, strong people skills,
patient and honest
Vice-Chair: Collaborative, stays in touch with
members makes sure all voices are being heard
Members: Good judgment of character,
personable, and positive
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HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment
1. Governance/Nominating Committee
2. Expectations
3. Prospect Research & List
4. Recruitment Documents
5. Board Member Outreach
6. Selection Process
7. Orientation/Welcome!
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HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment
Step # 1 Governance/Nominating Committee
• Establishes criteria for board service
• Finds and recommends new members
• Recommends officer and committee appointments
• Provides orientation for new members
• Reviews performance of existing members
• Takes a leadership role in shaping organizational
governance
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6. Seven Steps to Board Recruitment
Step #2 Expectations
Outline board member overview – “job description”
Accountability: Ensures results and excellent leadership
Strategic Vision: Sets goals and monitors process
Viability: Maintains sustainability
Advocacy: Promotes organization and its mission
Governance: Maintains highest standards
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Commitment to Board Members
• Provide timely information
• Make best possible use of assets
• Ensure best meeting management practices
• Respond to questions and concerns
• Encourage feedback and criticism
• Do utmost to be an organization of which you can be extremely proud
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Board Member Benefits of Service
• Using skills to improve nonprofit, effect change, and have an impact
• Feeling good by doing good
• Collaborating with interesting people
• Learning new skills
• Enjoying being recognized for efforts
• Wanting to give back to the community
• Having fun
*Reference: BoardSource
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7. HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment
Step #3 Prospect Research & List
• Look within for your best prospects
• Find connections: LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+
• Use free or almost free resources for
prospect researchers to identify best prospects
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HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment
Step #4 Recruitment Documents
• State you organizational values
• Share your budget documents
• Be concise, engaging, informative, and inspirational!
• Be clear about expectations
• Don’t minimize the time commitment required
• Keep prospects informed of your progress
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HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment
Step #5 Board Member Outreach
• Host open houses
• Organize site visits
• Invite to outreach events
• Make presentations at corporations, local
leadership and industry meetings
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8. WHO – Great Ways to Find Great Board Members
• Current volunteers and supporters
• Network with prospective partner
• Network with local associations: civic, alumni,
biz, professional, etc.
• Online board member and volunteer matching services
• Fee-based board search services
Activity #3: Engaging Board Members
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HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment
Step #6 Selection Process - Important Considerations
• ABCs of Philanthropy: Ability, Belief & Connection
• Perception and/or Implied Rejection – Be Discrete!
• Skill Sets: Experience & Expertise
• Diversity: Thought, Voice and Background
• Availability
• Influence
• Motivation
Remember, not all prospective board members are right for your board.
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HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment
Step #7 Orientation/Welcome!
• Board binder
• Board member mentors
• Orientation and ongoing engagement monitoring
• Feedback – monitor recruitment process,
experience on the board and board report card
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9. HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment
1. Governance/Nominating Committee
2. Expectations
3. Prospect Research & List
4. Recruitment Documents
5. Board Member Outreach
6. Selection Process
7. Orientation/Welcome!
“Great vision with mediocre people
still produces mediocre results.”
~ Jim Collins
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Now What – How to Engage Quickly
1. Assign to a Committee
2. Tour facility and meet with staff
3. Assign board member mentor
4. Develop personal action plan
5. Create board member job description
6. Give role in meetings
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Build the Foundation for an
Effective Governing Board
• This is a time-consuming, year-round, on-going process
• Always be as open about challenges and failures as
you are about strengths and success
• Continually thank and engage everyone who shows an
interest [7 Touches]
• Relationship building takes time and nurturing
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10. GOOD LUCK!
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