How to Find New Board Members for a Non Profit

Finding board members for a non profit is essential for the non profit's success and growth. Board members help to provide direction for the non profit's activities and typically are a source of donations, both personally, and through the people they know, to help fund the non profit. Board members that are experts in a field, such as veterinarian for an animal rescue non profit, can help provide direction for the organization. Others, such as prominent business owners in the community, can help to open new sources of donations through their numerous contacts seeking to fund charitable organizations.

Instructions

1. Announce that you are looking for new board members. This can be done through the non profit's website, newsletter or press release.

2. Consider your most avid volunteers. These individuals have already made a commitment to volunteering their time to your organization and may have much more to contribute as board members.

3. Ask your best donors to serve as board members or to suggest others who may be interested in serving. Your donors have already made a financial commitment to the success of your organization, and they may be interested in becoming involved in the board or know those who would be interested in the position.

4. Ask for suggestions for candidates among your current board members and staff. Existing board members may know others who may be interested in serving on your board, while your staff members may know community leaders who would benefit your organization.

5. Contact your local chamber of commerce. Leaders in the local business community are some of the best board members you can find, and those individuals are typically well known to the leadership of the chamber of commerce.

6. Register your non profit on boardnetUSA. This website is designed specifically for linking up non profits with people interested in serving as board members.

7. Keep your non profit board effective with advice and resources from BoardSource.org.

References

• boardnetUSA: Board Member Search
• Community Driven Institute : Recruiting Your Organization's First Board
• Non Profit Jobs: Selection of Effective Board Members for a Nonprofit Organization

Resources

• BoardSource: Building Effective Nonprofit Boards