The Board Members
Board members of a nonprofit organization are usually senior members who have been involved with the organization for some time or high profile individuals in business or corporate America who have contacts in various industries. All board members should have a strong grasp of the overall goals and mission of the organization and be dedicated to meeting those goals.
The board also provides guidance and oversees the financial well-being and fiscal responsibilities of the organization. Board members should help provide access to resources for the nonprofit organization to meet their intended mission.
Whether you are talking about the board of a national fundraising organization such as the United Way or the five people who make up the board of a small nonprofit group, you should expect the board to contribute to your fundraising efforts.
By giving their own money, they are setting an example and sending a message that they are committed to the fundraising drive or event. Increasingly, studies show more organizations are requiring board members to contribute funds, rather than simply seek contributions from their inner circle, as in the past.
Boards should be at the forefront of the organization, even if they maintain a low public image. Board members should:
Help identify and contact contributors
Help in the promotion of the fundraising campaign and the work of the organization
Provide specific resources for fundraising campaigns or events
Offer knowledge and guidance based on their background in the organization or in the for-profit business community
Multimillion-dollar fundraising organizations may have board members who are CEOs of major corporations. Their time is limited, but their high-profile positions and access to resources and funding are quite significant to the organization. Small nonprofits rely more heavily on their boards to oversee daily operations and, in some cases, to handle a portion of the fundraising activities.
Large organizations often use board manuals. A board manual serves as an orientation handbook and details the board structure and operations. It also includes listings of fellow board members and staff and provides general information about the organization.
Organizations with limited funds, however, often do not garner much buzz and are challenged to recruit potential board members. Boards-By-Design, started in 2001 at Duquesne University's Nonprofit Leadership Institute in Pittsburgh, was created to address this concern.
Boards-By-Design began a program in 2005 that follows the speed-dating format and puts together interested individuals and nonprofit organizations. Boards-By-Design hosts these events several times a year at a Pittsburgh restaurant, giving both sides five minutes to meet before moving on to the next candidate. The program has helped unite over 125 organizations with board or committee members, and the concept is now gaining ground across the country.
