Non-Profit Board Member Success

How to Match Board and Board Volunteer for Success in a Non-Profit.

Feb 7, 2009

Values and style must fit in order for non-profit board and board member to be a good match. When both parties know what to look for, the partnership is a win-win.

A non-profit board can benefit from the involvement of a corporate executive, and the corporate executive often has a lot to offer a non-profit organization, but the selection process must be a two-way street. Just because top talent might be available for free doesn't mean the volunteer is always accepted with open arms. The individual's style has to fit with the organization's culture, the respective values have to be aligned, and they need to be able to trust each other with open minds.

What's the motive?

The good people who choose to follow social service or cause-related careers often do so because they have some heart for the issue or the organization, and those folks are most often required to choose that passion over financial gain. In fact, many see it as evidence of their commitment that they are willing to work for "less" than what they'd make in a similar role in a more commercial venture. The corporate executive by definition has chosen a more commercial path, and their initial interest in volunteering might be greeted with skepticism as to the purity of their motives and interests.

Trust Needs to be Earned

Unless the new board member has completely walked away from their corporate job, their loyalties probably still lie in that world. So if the non-profit organization decides to do combat with the board member's biggest client on a point of principle, which side will he or she choose? Unless the board member doesn't need their day job, the choice will unfortunately be obvious. The new corporate board member will have to wait out the skepticism and prove that their motives are pure before the organization's staff will fully trust them.

Type A or not Type A

Most corporate leaders are conditioned to a certain style of communicating and leading. Years of corporate experience tends to create some bad habits - sometimes known as being "Type A." Fast decisions, multi-tasking, jam-packed schedules, direct confrontation over issues - these behaviours work in the corporate world. On the other hand, the non-profit world is home to kind, caring, helping people who chose their path because they wanted to create change, do good and nurture the underserved of the world. Communications in general and conflict in particular will have to be approached delicately by the corporate executive if they hope to be heard positively.

There can be great power in teamwork between people and organizations who have core beliefs in common. If you're considering a board role with a non-profit, think carefully about your ability to commit and be sure you can live up to that commitment so you can be trusted. Once you're on the board, be on time for meetings, listen a lot and be willing to roll up your sleeves.

If you're the non-profit looking for a new board member, try to look past the tough exterior and connect with the person's humanity and core values - and let them take breaks from the meeting to check their Blackberry every once in a while. With some shopping around and a little due diligence on both sides the corporate leader will find a non-profit board experience is incredibly rewarding, and the non-profit will benefit from their contributions.

The copyright of the article Non-Profit Board Member Success in Non-Profit Governance is owned by Karen Wright. Permission to republish Non-Profit Board Member Success in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.