Have you been asked to become a nonprofit director? In these days of tight money and service downloads to other levels of government, there is a lot of pressure on nonprofits to strengthen their boards, improve their governance practices and increase their fundraising. However, many organizations don’t have a clear picture of what they need, where they’re headed or what it will take to grow and prosper. They do believe that recruiting new members to the board may improve their chances of success. Unfortunately, many invitations are put forward with the simple hope that a new warm body will bring fresh ideas to the board table.
If you are invited to become a nonprofit director, there are probably many questions that you can ask before committing your time and energy to the cause. Answers to the following four questions should give you a good idea if your time and involvement will pay off for both you and the organization.
- What is the organization’s vision and mission? If these two statements are not in written form and don’t clearly explain where the organization wants to go and how it proposes to get there, you should gracefully bow out and save yourself many hours of frustration. If the reason for being can’t be clearly articulated, maybe there isn’t a good reason for being!
- What is the board’s current role in the affairs of the nonprofit? If the board is doing little, or is focused on fund-raising and you are a policy wonk, maybe there isn’t a job on the board for you right now. However, if the board is trying to improve its community profile and you’re a social media whiz, this might just be a lot of fun.
- In what state are the organization’s financial affairs? Asking for the most recent financial statements and a cash flow statement shouldn’t be too onerous. You will be liable for the affairs and health of the organization if you join the board – it would be nice to know you’re not getting into something troublesome.
- Why are you asking me? What specific talents or experience do you have that appeals to the organization? If you don’t receive a clear and concise answer to this question, you can surmise that the other directors don’t really know why they were picked either. That may mean the not-for-profit is not receiving the best guidance from its board, or is wandering from its professed mission.
Becoming a non profit director can be a stimulating and positive experience. However, it can also be hours of frustration and irritation if the fit between directors and the organization has not been carefully thought out. Hopefully, you will find a board that gives you the former. If that is not the case, there is nothing wrong with respectfully declining the offer, or offering to be approached again sometime in the future.
Good luck and have fun as a nonprofit director!
(photo courtesy of Ryan McGuire)
