Why Join A Not-For-Profit Board?

I’ve had many years’ experience on, and with, multiple Local, State and National Not-For-Profit Boards, however, due to personal circumstances, I haven’t been actively involved as a Board Director for a number of years. During this period my passion for Not-for-Profit Boards, their good Governance, and the immense contribution they can make through providing direction and oversight of an organisation, has not dissipated in any way.

Fortunately my personal circumstances have changed and, as I start the process of looking for a suitable Board (or 2) to join, I am reminded of why it’s a great idea, and an amazing privilege, to serve an organisation, and its community, as a Board Director.

Once you’ve made the decision to join a Not-for-Profit Board a number of question must be asked:

Which Board? – this will be the topic of my next blog.

• Am I eligible to be a Director?

• Who Should a Board Select?

• How Should a new Director be Trained/Supported?

So why join a Not-for-Profit Board?

1. Opportunity to Contribute

The first, the most compelling, and the most important reason, to join a Not-for-Profit Board is an Opportunity to Contribute.

Many, maybe most, of us want to contribute to our communities and to something that is much bigger than any one of us. There are many ways of doing this – volunteering at community events, serving in soup kitchens, donating money, pro-bono work, donating physical resources to projects etc etc – the number of ways of contributing is huge. By contributing in any of these ways the likelihood is that you are contributing through a Not-for-Profit organisation.

One very important way to contribute is to volunteer your time, knowledge, skills and networks to an organisation as a Board Director. In this way you will contribute to the governance, strategic direction, development and growth of the organisation.

There are other benefits to becoming a Director, and they could appear to be selfish, however if your primarily purpose for undertaking the role is one of contribution, then the following can be viewed as organic benefits of that contribution.

NOTE: My advice is that after examining your motives for joining a Board, if you discover your primary reasons are listed below, then Don’t Do It. Your first and primary reason MUST be to contribute to the organisation and the impact it has on the its community.

2. Opportunity to Learn

I’ve seen many a new Director join a Board with the notion they know everything and can solve all the problems and set an organisation on the right path to growth and greater community impact. While I’m sure you are not this type of person I can assure you that even these new Directors quickly discover they have lots to learn about their sector, about the stakeholder relationships specific to their organisation, about working as a team of diversely skilled Directors to achieve a common strategic direction, about constraints the organisation has that are not obvious to the outside world – and in many other areas.

Go into the role with a humble attitude, and an open seeking mind, and you will gain skills and learn much.

3. Opportunity to Build Your Network

The very nature of a Board requires you to mix and network with people (other Directors, Directors from other Boards, Donors and other Stakeholders etc) who have likeminded interests, passions and desires to contribute. While these networks may benefit you professionally, you many also find you start spending time with some at a social level.

4. It Looks Good on your CV

Looking for work? Having “Board Director” on your CV certainly doesn’t go astray, showing that you are 1) contributing as a volunteer and 2) your contribution is at a Governance level of an organisation.

5. It will Compliment Your Career Development

The new skills, knowledge and networks you develop as a Director can significantly assist you in your career development. You will start to look at your own employment from different perspectives, you will tackle projects and problems with fresh eyes and using methods you have never used before, you will have a broader network to call upon when the need arises – the list goes on.

There are many reasons to join a Board – the rewards are huge, particularly the contribution you can make to a community through the organisation you serve.

As always I’d love to hear your feedback.

If this is an area in which TakeControl Solutions may be of assistance to your organisation please do not hesitate to contact me.

Dwayne Wescombe

Managing Director - TakeControl Solutions