Board Member Positions – Find Opportunities and Join a Board of Directors
Board Positions – How to become a board member at a nonprofit organization
Consider the issues which you are passionate about and what organizations address those issues. Of those, which mission area and organization best matches your interests, availability, and aspirations? The next step is to begin identifying open board member positions or ones that may be coming online at the nonprofit organizations you’re interested in.
Learn about the nonprofit organization
Once you have found a mission area and type of organization that interests you, you will need to learn more about them before expressing your interest.
An informed candidate has a much better chance of being invited to join a board than an uninformed candidate. Here are some easy ways to learn more about the organizations you wish to serve:
- Study the organization’s website and read its annual report.
- Visit Guidestar.org to get a broad picture of the organization, its mission, leaders, and overall financial health. Read the organization’s most recent Form 990 and audited financial statements, and watch out for some of these important considerations:
- Did the organization run a deficit in the most recent year? If the organization is operating at a deficit, be sure you understand why and how it is addressing the deficit moving forward. A deficit without a specific plan for how it will be avoided in the future could indicate a shaky financial situation.
- Does the organization have at least five or more independent board members? If the organization does not have at least a core group of independent board members, it may not have strong governance practices in place. If there are any non-independent board members, be sure to follow up with the organization to understand who they are and the nature of their relationships to the organization.
- Do an internet search on the organization to read any recent news coverage that might flag exciting opportunities or potential concerns.
In addition, be aware of any potential conflicts of interest between your personal and professional concerns and the interests of the organization.
There may be some avoidable conflicts, but if the conflicts rise to the level of negatively impactful, then serving on that particular board will not be a good fit for you or for the organization. For more information about conflicts of interest, check out our free FAQ for Nonprofit Organization Legal and Compliance Issues.
Once you find a board service opportunity that appeals to your interests, availability, and personal goals, and you’ve done your research to find out what the organization does and how well it does it, you’re ready to begin.
How to become a board member (Don’t wait to be asked)
It will not always be obvious if an organization has a board position coming online or open. You may have to express your interest directly or get involved in other ways. One option to express your interest is by volunteering, advocating, or financially supporting the organization, before you approach its leaders about board service.
The most effective board members are individuals who are truly passionate about what an organization does; are willing to commit time, resources, and energy to strengthen and sustain it; and embrace board service as a serious commitment.
Finding Open Board Member Positions
There are local, national, and international board matching programs where you can search for organizations that are actively searching for board members. Click here to find board posting and board matching programs.
Another option is to indicate your interest in serving on a nonprofit board on LinkedIn in the Volunteer Experience & Causes section of your profile, making it easier for organizations seeking board members to find you!
Volunteer Board Positions versus Paid Board Positions
It is rare for nonprofit board members to be paid, but it does happen. It is more typical for corporate boards to pay board members. In the nonprofit sector, most board positions are volunteer. There are some nonprofits that pay board members. Board member compensation should be reasonable and aligned with federal and state laws.
Joining a nonprofit board
Board leadership is critical to the success of a nonprofit and joining a nonprofit board is an exciting opportunity. Every nonprofit has its own board recruitment process. After learning about the organization, consider reaching out to the chief executive, chair or board governance committee chair to indicate your interest in joining their board. It’s important to understand their board member expectations and commitment. Recruitment is a two-way process so be prepared to ask and answer questions.
Additional Resources
For more information about serving on a board, check out these additional resources: