How to Join a Non-Profit Board – Part 3

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.

1)  Continue your due diligence.

• Schedule a meeting with a current Board member. Make sure you re-confirm all of the details you’ve previously uncovered, i.e. time and financial requirements, etc.
  
  
• Ask if they will provide you with a Board Package. (If one isn’t available that should also inform your decision.)
  
  
• A board package should include collateral materials; organization history and structure; lists of board members, company affiliations, committees & chairs; as well as the day-to-day details about time and place.  In addition, the board package should include information on Directors and Officers Insurance, and an application.
  
  
• Ask about their new board member onboarding process. Is there a manual for board members? Is annual training provided?
  
  

2)  Request and review at least 3 months of financial statements, and board meeting minutes for the last 3 to 6 months.

• Read them!

​

• If you have questions be sure to ask for clarifications.
  
  
• It would be a shame to discover, after you’ve joined the board, that there is an unfunded pension liability or a discrimination lawsuit pending.
  
  

3)  Continue your due diligence. (Sorry, you’re not quite done yet!)

• Meet the Board Chair. Is this someone you can work with?
  
  
• If appropriate, meet with the Executive Director or CEO. They report to the Board, after all.
  
  
• Tour their facility. Do they have enough “boots on the ground” to accomplish their mission?

4)  Start writing.

• I cannot emphasize this enough, writing thank you notes is not only good manners, it may also get you this board seat and maybe your next one, too.
  
  
• Write personal, hand-written, hard-copy thank you notes to everyone. Everyone you’ve met in the organization.
  
  
• Help keep the USPS in business – buy stamps and mail them. As much as we all rely on email, we all still love to get letters through the mail.
  
  

5)  Evaluate all of the information you have gathered. Decide if you are in or not.

• If everything makes sense (including your gut reaction) then commit. Fill out the application and email it in.
  
  
• Once your application is accepted, (sorry, still not done!) start writing again. Yes, more of those personal, hand-written, hard-copy thank you notes sent via snail mail, to thank everyone who helped you join the board of the non-profit that best suits you.
  
  

Once you join the board, your journey as a board member for a non-profit organization will truly begin.

There are a few more best practice steps you will find it worthwhile to complete:

• In addition to attending board meetings, make it a regular practice to have periodic one-on-one meetings with other board members and the board chair and executive director.
  
  
• Send out an email announcement to your network about your new position as a board member. Be sure to mention the non-profit you’ve selected and why.
  
  
• Talk to the organization’s marketing team about issuing a press release naming you as having joined the board.

The email announcement and a press release are great ways to start your financial asks and to get others to join the board or support the organization. 
 
After having gone through this process, you’ll be as energized and excited as I am to attend board and committee meetings knowing that you’ve found the right fit for you and that your ongoing efforts will make a difference in your community.
 
Congratulations!

About the Author

Jacki Lorenz, Co-founder & Partner

Jacki Lorenz is a co-founder and partner of Valtas Group. With 40 years in the business community, Jacki’s career has spanned Fortune 100 corporations to national financial institutions.

​After leaving corporate America, Jacki’s latest full-time non-profit endeavor was as the major gifts director at the Millionair Club Charity in Seattle.

Since joining Valtas, Jacki continues to contribute to the non-profit community through her legendary network, enabling her to connect non-profit organizations to the right resources.  She holds several non-profit board positions in support of her non-profit passion for Basic Needs.
 
Connect with Jacki here >