From Entry Level to Leadership: How to Join a Nonprofit Board of Directors

April 1, 2009 | Career Advice, From Entry Level to Leadership, Next Generation Leadership, Now Generation Leadership, Professional Development

I’ll just go ahead and tell you that my view is that all young nonprofit professionals should serve on a board at some point. If you plan to stay in the nonprofit field, you should see the work from all angles, especially the governance arena. But more importantly, if you aspire to a CEO or other leadership position, board experience will prove to be invaluable to you. Here’s why:

Board membership can bring credibility to your reputation and help you gain respect from older colleagues
Serving on a board will allow you to hone skills you may not be able to learn at work in your current nonprofit role
While there may be a gray ceiling in your organization, on boards, there are plenty of leadership positions available – you can lead one of the committees or serve as an officer
Being a board member forces you to become knowledgeable about many different areas of nonprofit management: finance, human resources, fundraising, legal issues, ethics
You can build a strong network through you connections with other board members – you will likely meet fellow board members who you may not have otherwise crossed paths with
Serving on a board will help you gain the leadership skills you didn’t learn in college or grad school – how to make that judgment call, when to speak up even when it’s unpopular, how to build consensus

I joined my first nonprofit board in 2007, and it’s been the best leadership training I’ve ever had. Of course, many young nonprofit leaders already realize the benefits that board membership can provide for their career. For them, the next question they always ask is: How do I get on a board? Who would any nonprofit want such a young person as a board member? I don’t have any wealthy friends or connections! How would I raise money for the organization? It’s then that I think back on leadership guru Margaret Wheatley’s definition of a leader:

“Leader: anyone who wants to help, who is willing to step forward to make a difference in the world.”

That’s you! If you have the desire and passion to serve as a board member, there are thousands of organizations that would be happy to have you. But before you take the plunge, make sure you do your due diligence. You don’t want to go wasting your good talent on a cause or organization that’s not a good fit for you.

Understand the Roles and Responsibilities of a Board Member
The best place to learn about all the different responsibilities of being a nonprofit board member is on the BoardSource website. You want to make sure you can sign on to each one of them. The experience can be rewarding, but being on a board takes hard work and integrity just like a full-time job.

Don’t Be Afraid You Won’t Be Able to Raise Money
Now I’m not Mama Moneybucks, but what I learned is that if you can’t make a significant donation as a board member, it’s really not that difficult to raise money from others to fulfill your committment to the organization. Last year, I asked my friends to donate $26 to one of the nonprofits I serve with in honor of my birthday. I raised over $600, an amount that I wouldn’t be able to give personally, but was able to raise from my network.

Learn About the Experiences of Other Board Members
I took this really fun, interactive online tutorial called Nonprofit Board Basics from CompassPoint. It’s really informative and free training applicable to anyone thinking about joining a nonprofit board.

Find Board Openings on boardnetUSA
A simple first step for young professionals looking to join a board would be to create an account and profile at boardnetUSA to find listed board opportunities in your area. It only takes about 20 minutes to fill in the requested information, especially if you take a little time beforehand to think about the kind of nonprofit you want to work with and the skills you want to utilize.

Don’t Hesitate to Contact the Organizaton Directly
If there’s a cause or nonprofit you’re interested in already, don’t be afraid to call them directly and express your interest in board membership. In my experience, nonprofits are always looking for good board members! The best person to reach out to would be the CEO or Executive Director, who will be able to inform you of any openings and the process for throwing your name in the ring. You’ll never know until you ask, so put yourself out there!

Are YOU on a nonprofit board? Tell us how you found your opportunity in the comments!

Up Next: Speak Up!

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Tags: board of directors, nonprofit boards, young nonprofit professionals

Barbara Saunders

Boards provide a great opportunity to find a formal or informal mentor, whether for a nonprofit leadership role or for something else. l learned a tremendous amount about accounting while serving as vice-president of a board under a president who is a Harvard MBA.
John Godfrey

Rosetta, your suggestion that young non profit professionals should join boards of smaller organisations is excellent. It is a win win situation. The board members can bring their specialist skills to the organization and they can learn general skills from their fellow board members and the staff they team with.
Steve Smith

Excellent idea from Rosetta Thurman. When I retired in 2005 after a 30 year career in nonprofit management, I sought a nonprofit in the "North Shore" (Greater Boston) area to volunteer for and perhaps serve on their board. I found the right fit with an agency providing affordable housing. It's been challenging for me, among other things making me realize I'm not as omniscient and brilliant as I thought. It requires a very different brand of leadership to serve in this volunteer capacity. Nice to recognize that I have lots to learn in this field.
Carole Carlson

I am finishing my second term on the Board of Interfaith Works (an organization that provides services to the homeless and low-income population) in Maryland. I started out by volunteering on one of the Board committees, and after serving for a year or so, was asked to join the Board. The opening on the committee was advertised in my professional association's monthly magazine, but contacting the Executive Director would have been just as effective. This particular organization frequently draws Board members from the ranks of its committees. Furthermore, serving on the committee gave me an opportunity to be sure that I would be proud to be associated with the organization as a Board member, before making that commitment.
Niecy Lunn

I am on the Board of the Women's Law Center of Maryland. One of my co-workers was on the Board, and as she was resigning, she offered my name as some one to come on in her place. My experience has been very rewarding.

Being a legal organization, at first it was easy for me to feel I had no place to speak up or provide valuable input about the things we were discussing since I am not a lawyer. That fear has not completely subsided, but now that I am in my second year of serving on the Board, I feel more connected to my fellow Board members and am less hesitant to speak up.

I agree with you Rosetta that it really is a learning opportunity and I think it makes me a more valuable leader in my own np organization because I am able to discuss 'management' issues with confidence.

Great post!