Maayan Aviv, CEO, American Friends of NATAL, is a nonprofit leader with 15+ years of experience, driving impact in mental health treatment.
We all want to make a difference in the world, and one way we can do that is to join the board of a nonprofit organization. However, it’s not a good idea to join just any board, even if you’ve been invited to join a particular one.
It’s important to consider several things before signing up. While these are things we may instinctively know, it’s still important to say them because it takes two to tango. Finding a board to join is like dating—you need to find the right fit.
Finding The Right Fit
The process involves research into public information and learning to read between the lines and understand the nuances of that information. Social media and nonprofit websites have placed a wide array of information at our fingertips.
We can also see who else is serving on the nonprofit’s board currently. After all, there may be some people we especially want to serve with, whether for networking purposes or because we’re inspired by them. On the other hand, we might find that our working style doesn’t mesh well with the way the other board members work. This may be clear from a review of who is currently serving on the board.
Like with dating, some people care more about appearance or habits, while others prefer intelligence. Talk with the nonprofit to identify their core values and understand their mission. You should be aligned with their cause and fully understand it by looking at their mission and the people connected with the organization.
Additionally, do your due diligence by accessing public financial information and filings. This will enable you to see if the organization is financially healthy.
The Importance Of Value Alignment
Whether you’re looking for a nonprofit board to join or you’ve been invited to join one, it’s critical to assess your personal values to see how they line up with the organizational values of the nonprofit.
Consider what causes you’re most passionate about and seek out organizations that address those causes. For example, you may value respect or courage highly, but if you find these things are lacking at a particular organization, you might not want to join the board.
Remember: Nonprofit board members typically aren’t paid because it’s usually considered a conflict of interest, so whenever you sit on a board, you’re volunteering your time. Thus, you really need to be passionate about the organization you’re working with and have complete value alignment—because the time you put in is valuable. You should be in love with the mission, which makes it worthwhile to spend time on it without being paid.
That said, executive directors should also remember that their board members aren’t being paid and thus should respect their time and value their input.
Understanding Organizational Structure
While some nonprofits may have similar organizational structures, not all of them will be structured in the same way. Typically, boards will have different committees, so when you consider joining a board, you should think about which committees you want to join.
Volunteering for a committee will require more of your time, so it’s important to understand this and consider the duties of each committee before signing up for one. However, when you feel particularly passionate about a certain cause or function of the organization, you’re likely to get immense returns on your time from both a personal and professional standpoint.
Building A Strong Network—With Or Without Board Membership
Joining a nonprofit board can also be a great way to network with people you’d like to meet. However, before joining the board, you can attend the organization’s events to learn more about it. You can also volunteer as a one-time thing to see if you and the organization are a good fit.
Staying connected to the organization for a time is also a great way to learn about it and determine if it’s something you’re passionate enough about to volunteer a significant amount of your time. On the other hand, lots of people get involved with organizations without joining the board.
It’s all about the amount of time you’re comfortable putting in and whether you’re a good fit for the board of directors or would be better off as a volunteer. Not everyone meshes well with the same groups of people, so sometimes it might make sense to remain a volunteer instead of joining the board based on whom you’ll be working with.
Making A Difference
Ultimately, joining a board means forging a deeper relationship with an organization and the other board members. There will be challenges along the way, but it’s important to remember that we’re all human. Executive directors who make themselves available to board members at times that are convenient for them will build relationships and trust along the way, humanizing all aspects of board membership.
At the end of the day, involvement with a nonprofit can bring more personal and professional benefits than you can imagine. Board members who take the time to research organizations and find the right fit are likely to find opportunities to boost their emotional intelligence, become better listeners and become more appreciative of challenging experiences.
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