> Skip to content
FEATURED:
  • Our Transition to a Nonprofit
Sign In
  • Latest Articles
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Data & Research
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
Sign In
  • Latest Articles
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Data & Research
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
  • Latest Articles
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Data & Research
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
News
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

How to Recruit Board Members

By  Caroline Preston
July 7, 2008

Nonprofit boards waste too much time fantasizing about the ideal board member, writes Kelly Kleiman on her blog The Nonprofiteer.

“What’s the point of identifying a desired outcome (‘Someone wealthy, with lots of connections, who’s eager to do fund raising’) if there’s no way to accomplish the outcome?” she says.

Ms. Kleiman, a former lawyer and journalist, says that a board should instead identify people they know — not “hypothetical constructs” — who might be interested in supporting their charity. Next, they should determine how well those peoples’ skills stack up against a list of concrete tasks they need board members to accomplish.

We’re sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network. Please make sure your computer, VPN, or network allows javascript and allows content to be delivered from v144.philanthropy.com and chronicle.blueconic.net.

Once javascript and access to those URLs are allowed, please refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, contact us at 202-466-1032 or help@chronicle.com

Nonprofit boards waste too much time fantasizing about the ideal board member, writes Kelly Kleiman on her blog The Nonprofiteer.

“What’s the point of identifying a desired outcome (‘Someone wealthy, with lots of connections, who’s eager to do fund raising’) if there’s no way to accomplish the outcome?” she says.

Ms. Kleiman, a former lawyer and journalist, says that a board should instead identify people they know — not “hypothetical constructs” — who might be interested in supporting their charity. Next, they should determine how well those peoples’ skills stack up against a list of concrete tasks they need board members to accomplish.

Then, she says, “Go talk to those people!”

“Board recruitment is nothing more than stating the case for an institution you love to people who will be prepared to do the same thing,” writes Ms. Kleiman. “Let’s stop complicating it, and preparing for it, and just get out there and do it.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Do you have any tips to share on recruiting board members? Let us know by clicking on the comment link.

We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Explore
    • Latest Articles
    • Get Newsletters
    • Advice
    • Webinars
    • Data & Research
    • Magazine
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    Explore
    • Latest Articles
    • Get Newsletters
    • Advice
    • Webinars
    • Data & Research
    • Magazine
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
  • The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Work at the Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Gift-Acceptance Policy
    • Site Map
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Work at the Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Gift-Acceptance Policy
    • Site Map
    • DEI Commitment Statement
  • Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Organizational Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
    Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Organizational Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2023 The Chronicle of Philanthropy
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • pinterest
  • facebook
  • linkedin