Nonprofits rely on community volunteers in many ways. One of the most important is board service. We are fortunate to have a wonderful resource in North Texas for both nonprofits and individuals looking to serve on nonprofit boards.
We’ve partnered with BoardBuild for this article on ways to best prepare for board service. Be sure to check out their website for more tips and resources.
Time Commitment
Board service takes time and on average, you will spend between 100 – 200 hours annually. Preparing for board meetings can take two – three hours for pre-reads and then an additional three hours per meeting. You will also be expected to contribute financially to the nonprofit and advocate for their mission.
Per BoardBuild, be mindful of the personal liability involved with board service. Here are their RED and YELLOW flags to consider.
RED Flags
Is the organization incorporated?
Are tax filings up to date and all taxes paid?
Does the organization carry Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance, General Liability (GL) and Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance?
Does the organization have a Conflict of Interest (COI) policy, and is the COI statement signed by all board members on an annual basis?
YELLOW Flags
Does the organization have a strategic plan in place?
Does the organization have a published DEI statement?
Does the board chair and CEO have a good working relationship?
BoardBuild recommends walking away from an organization that demonstrate any of the red flags. Yellow flags indicate more questions need to be asked during the interview process.
BoardBuild is on a mission to strengthen communities through the training and matching of emerging and established leaders with nonprofit boards. Utilizing innovative online training and our advanced algorithm-based matching system, BoardBuild connects community leaders with mission-driven nonprofit organizations to form board-level relationships. If your nonprofit organization need board members, you can post a position for free.
Cheers,
Michelle Crim, CFRE
Dynamic Development Strategies can help. We offer coaching, grant writing, and fundraising services for our nonprofit clients. We specialize in small to mid-size organizations because we understand your challenges. Please contact us for more information.
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