Select people who are passionate about the goals of the organization. Look for members who have a personal connection to the cause or have a history of advocating for other nonprofits with similar goals.
How to Choose Your Board Members for a Nonprofit
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Running a nonprofit takes a lot of money, time, and motivation. Sadly, everything you put into the organization will be wasted if your board of directors turns out be a group of uncaring and incompetent dimwits. When selecting board members, be choosy for the sake of your nonprofit.
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Instructions
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Ask a potential board member if they have the time to invest in this nonprofit. If the person already has three jobs plus two kids enrolled in drama and soccer, chances are that person cannot make time to attend board meetings or promotional events.
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Choose members who each excel in different areas. According to an article in the June 2005 edition of "The International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law," the board members will be responsible for a wide variety of tasks, including real estate management, overseeing budgets, and organizing events within the community. At the very least, you need a real estate expert, a financial guru, and a public relations wiz.
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Request references from prospective board members and call the references they provide to find out if this person works well in groups. Although board members may be assigned individual tasks at times, they will have to work with each other to make the nonprofit a success. Argumentative or selfish people are not good candidates.
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Ask prospective board members to sign a consent form for a background check. Submit the request for a background check to a police bureau and review the results yourself. If the person has a criminal history that clashes with your nonprofit's mission, do not offer that individual a position on the board.
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References
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