I currently serve on the Board of Directors for a small, early-state nonprofit called Volare Youth Leadership. My term of service is expiring in June and the Executive Director asked me to consider extending for another year. I’m in the midst of that inquiry and will have an answer by our June meeting. It’s a responsibility that I do not take lightly.
Many of us involved in the nonprofit sector are aware of the commitments of time, talent, and treasure required for effective board functioning. Those commitments are like three legs of a stool–if any one of them is absent, the stool tips over and does not work as intended.
Time
When considering service it’s important for board members and staff to have a conscious conversation about time commitment expectations. At a minimum, board members are required to prepare for and attend board meetings. How many meetings? How long are they? How much preparation time is typically required?
In addition, there may be committee work outside of regularly scheduled meetings. Before agreeing to serve on a committee, board members should estimate how much work is expected from them and the time involved. In my own case, in addition to the six scheduled board meetings, over the course of the past year, I committed to helping Volare expand its capability for enrolling more schools in our signature Leadership Program for youth. That effort involved at least one-to-two hours of work every other week throughout the year.
Talent
In addition to the primary fiduciary responsibility that board members hold for the organization, one of the most important roles a board member takes on is sharing his/her passion for its mission and programs by advocating in the various communities where we interact. This can take the form of introducing staff to prospective clients, donors, service providers, prospective partners, and anyone else who might be helpful. It often involves touching, moving, and inspiring individuals about the possibilities that the nonprofit is creating.
As unpaid volunteers and ambassadors for the organization, board members have an opportunity to expand the impact of the nonprofit they serve by generously and frequently sharing the good work that is being accomplished. This often means taking some risk. In my own case, Volare is in its early stage of development with a shoestring budget and a limited number of programs. And yet, I am willing to put my reputation on the line because I believe that helping youth discover their purpose and passion in their teenage years is an essential part of character development that is missing in our schools today.
Treasure
Most (if not all) nonprofit organizations exist and thrive through the generous financial gifts made by donors. In smaller nonprofits, board members nearly always have a responsibility to give and to help raise money. As the organization grows, the board typically forms a development committee and professional fundraising staff is hired to increase the resources available to carry out the mission.
Regardless of the approach, professional staff and board members should be clear about the philanthropic component of their role. I believe that responsibility must include making gifts directly during one’s term of service as well as helping the organization increase it’s capacity for sustainable fundraising. In the later case, board members can introduce new donors to the organization and ask those individuals for gifts that support the mission. For Volare, it is a pleasure for me to be a donor, and this year I’m happy to report that I brought in a new donor to support our work.
I will assert that if a nonprofit is involved with relationship fundraising that involves asking individuals for gifts to sustain the organization, then it is essential that all members of the board give in proportion to their capacity to do so. Some of the best thinking and writing I’ve recently seen on this topic can be found in Larry Johnson’s book: The Eight Principles of Sustainable Fundraising. If you serve on a board, or if you are an Executive Director of a nonprofit, I encourage you to get and read Larry’s book.
David Langiulli is a certified professional coach who helps nonprofit leaders flourish and thrive. He is also the author of The Essential Leadership Guide for Nonprofit Professionals. Grab your FREE copy here.