{"id":1848,"date":"2013-01-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-01-10T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.causevox.com\/?p=1848"},"modified":"2024-05-08T17:46:07","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T17:46:07","slug":"how-to-be-a-good-board-member","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.causevox.com\/blog\/how-to-be-a-good-board-member\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Be a Good Board Member: 7 Must-Have Traits"},"content":{"rendered":"

All right \u2013 you\u2019re jumping hurdles and filing the paperwork to incorporate your nonprofit, but you suddenly hit a roadblock: you need to select a board<\/a>. Or let\u2019s say that your organization launched with a board comprised of friends, but their interest is fading as they discover how much is expected of them, and you\u2019re ready to design a better board.<\/p>\n

Watch our video series here to learn how to teach your board the basics of nonprofit fundraising.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The following seven qualities are key traits to look for as you choose the board members that will take your organization into the future.<\/p>\n

1. Passion<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As explained by 501c3.org<\/a>, \u201cIf [board members] do not care deeply about the very purpose of the organization, their value is minimal.\u201d Your organization isn\u2019t in it for the money, so the incentive for many supporters is the sense of fulfillment they get from supporting a worthy cause \u2013 one they feel strongly connected to.<\/p>\n

When interviewing board members, look for those that have either worked for a similar cause in the past or that genuinely seem emotionally engaged with the mission.<\/p>\n

2. Experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Those that have extensive experience relevant to your organization, preferably as leaders, will make the best board members. Since your board members will govern your entire organization, including top executives, it is important that they have enough experience to make wise choices, but also to be seen by others as credible.<\/p>\n

3. Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many people will agree to serve as a board member without realizing how much of their time it will consume. Aside from regular meetings, board members are expected to also take charge of at least one committee or project. That\u2019s why, according to BoardSource.org<\/a>, each board member must be able to make \u201ca serious commitment to participate actively in the work of [their committees].\u201d If a candidate isn\u2019t willing to treat the position like a true job, is stretched too thin, or is only agreeing to serve to fluff out their resume, don\u2019t choose that person.<\/p>\n

4. Professional skills<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Because board members are responsible for high-level governance, it\u2019s best to have a few who understand sophisticated legal, financial, or business issues. You don\u2019t want a board with only professionals, but having a few will ensure that your organization is successful, not just from an operational perspective, but from administrative and regulatory perspectives as well.<\/p>\n

5. Attentiveness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A good board member is, \u201c[A]lert to signs of trouble – financial trouble, management trouble, operational trouble, personnel trouble, litigation trouble, or IRS trouble. And, when signs of trouble are observed, effective board members take steps to resolve the trouble,\u201d according to Thompson & Thompson<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Board members can\u2019t be asleep at the wheel and waiting for things to be fed to them. You\u2019ll need people that actively monitor your organization so that you stay ahead of problems instead of always being in a reactive \u201ccrisis mode.\u201d<\/p>\n

6. & 7. Toughness & Collegiality<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Your board members have to be ready to take on tough issues and work through conflicts, but they also need to be respectful and inspire collaboration. These qualities need to be in balance, and you will need to find individuals that are comfortable being in healthy conflicts with others, but who can ultimately achieve resolutions and keep working relationships intact.<\/p>\n

Your board should ultimately be made up of people with complementary qualities. Not every individual will have the above traits, but if you build a diverse team of people, as recommended by Nolo<\/a>, your organization will have a robust resource that will lead it to success.<\/p>\n

Additional Board Management Articles<\/strong><\/h3>\n