Three Essential Questions to Consider Before Joining a Nonprofit Board

You've been volunteering for years, and it's time for you to give back to your community in a different way. You want to do a little bit more. You've heard about nonprofit boards, and you're wondering if this is the next step you should take. Is now the time for you to join a board? Here are three questions to ask before joining a nonprofit board.

1. Do I have the time needed to support the mission of this organization?

2. Do I have the financial resources to meet the monetary requirements for a board member?

3. Am I prepared to use my talents and skills to further the growth of this organization?

Effective board members need ample time, finances, and willingness to give their talents. Let's start by discussing time. As you are researching different organizations, you need to interview current board members and ask them how much time I should dedicate to this board each month? I would double whatever time they tell you. So, if they say 10 hours, you should think it might be 20 hours. And so you want to take a true and accurate inventory of your other responsibilities, whether it's your career, side businesses, partner, children, pets, travel, sports, church, and so on. Do you have time to devote extra hours to another cause? Are you already serving on other boards? Do you have the capacity to take on more? If you answer yes, then let's dive into finances.

Many nonprofit boards have leadership commitments, annual commitments, or a give-or-get. It is essentially a yearly contribution or donation made to serve as a leader on the board. That's right, contributing to the organization financially is often a requirement to serve. In fact, many funders or granters will usually ask if 100% of the board has contributed financially to support the board. After all, if the organization's leaders are unwilling to support it financially, why should another organization provide a grant or donation. So, what do those fees look like? They can range from a couple hundred dollars to tens of thousands. It depends on many factors, including the type of organization (national, local), its budget, and even the location, as larger metropolitan areas tend to have more significant asks.

So, there will also be additional times that they ask you to give. Your state or city has a giving day like Give St. Louis Day, Do More 24 Day in Delaware, or Giving Tuesday in November; you may be asked to give a little more on those days. Also, suppose your organization covers a vast geographic area, and you're expected to travel to events. In that case, you have to think about that because it will cost you money to get there. If the organization has a specific dress code, consider requiring a blue business suit for business meetings and a specific pin, scarf, or polo for golf out. You have to be prepared and ask about those things when meeting with prospective board members.

You may also be asked to support an event or capital campaign financially. For example, you may be asked to sell 8-10 tickets for a gala, buy a scholarship banquet table, or find a corporate sponsor. These are typically above or beyond the corporate ask. So, from a financial perspective, you have to be ready. As a younger professional, I may have been able to meet the financial obligations, but having unexpected expenses crop up would have thrown me into a loop. Now, I know to ask about those things before making a commitment. Please ask questions about leadership requirements and other questions. And, if you're financially, you're able to give,

So, you've decided to join the board because you have something to offer (and not just to build your resume). You don't want to be a benchwarmer; you want to actively participate on the board. And so, think about your unique skills and how you can contribute to the board. For example, do you have accounting or bookkeeping skills? Could you serve on the finance committee or as a treasurer or auditor? I started on the Bylaws Committee because I knew that I could read. I was unsure what unique skills I had beyond that, but I could read and comprehend the governing documents. Decades later, it's still one of my favorite ways to serve in an organization.

There are other people who are super great at events, fundraising, and securing donations.

So, I think it's important that you understand what you bring to the table because this should be a give-and-take, right? You're pouring into the organization, and you're getting something back because you are helping further the organization's mission.

These three elements-time, money and skill set-are crucial to consider. By completing a thorough self-assessment, you can determine if you are ready to serve on a nonprofit board. Remember, it's okay if you're not ready. It just may not be your seasons to serve on a board. You can continue to contribute to the organization through volunteering. The key is to ensure you are in a position to give your best to the organization. If you're ready to serve, we can start identifying the best place for you to contribute.

Tell me in the comments if you're ready to serve and what questions you have about board leadeship!