How do you define an “effective board member”? (What makes a board member a good one?)

​An effective board member actively contributes their time, treasure, and/or talent. 

You have found the non-profit board you want to join – now what?!?

There are still several steps you should take to ensure the right fit for you and for them. ​​Here are five best practices to help you on your way.

Now that you’ve defined your passion (as discussed in Part 1), you need to find the right non-profit organization to volunteer for as a board member.    

The many ways

There are many ways to identify potential non-profit organizations that will make good candidates for you to choose from, including:

Since my early days in corporate America working with Fortune 500 firms, I have been involved in the world of non-profit organizations as a volunteer. I’ve been a member and served on numerous committees and boards. My career eventually led me to work for several non-profit organizations. As an employee, I not only worked directly with executive directors and board members, I was also actively engaged in developing boards and recruiting board members.

Is there anyone flying this plane?

In too many cases, a nonprofit board’s approach to leadership turnover is hectic, not well thought out or planned, reactive instead of proactive. Most often, the board  is group of passionate, well-meaning volunteers who are now faced with the single most important role they will have: selecting a new leader.​ How the board navigates the transition will directly impact the future and potential viability of the organization.