Joining a board is a two-way street. As a board candidate, you must determine whether you can meet the expectations required by an organization and assess whether this board is right for you. The nonprofit, on the other hand, must be sure that your skills and expertise will advance its mission.
The checklist below can help you evaluate whether board service at a specific nonprofit makes sense for you. If you work at an organization, you may want to make sure your board members can answer these questions — and are clear on their responsibilities — when you invite them.
1. Mission
Do you have an emotional connection to the mission? Do you believe the mission makes a difference?
Does the executive director have a vision for the organization that excites you?
2. Time
Do you have a solid grasp of the time required each month to be an engaged board member?
Do you really have enough time to commit to this group, or are you too busy right now?
3. Personal Giving
Are you clear about the level of personal financial giving expected of each board member?
Can you meet that expectation?
4. Leadership
Are you willing to eventually step up and assume a leadership role?
Are all leadership roles (officers, committee chairs, etc.) currently filled, or will you be expected to immediately assume one of them? If the latter, are you prepared to get yourself up to speed?
5. Governance
Do recent meeting agendas show attention to a full range of governance duties, such as financial oversight, legal compliance, risk management, mission impact, fundraising, and executive oversight?
Does the board’s committee structure support good governance? For example, are there active finance and governance committees?
6. Fundraising
Are you willing to serve as an organizational ambassador and talk about the organization and its mission to your personal and professional contacts?
Are you willing to help secure donations for the organization?
Is it clear what’s expected of the entire board when it comes to fundraising? Are you clear about your individual role?
7. Financial
What do financial statements for the organization show? Is this an organization with few reserves or one with a nice safety cushion? Has the organization been posting losses year after year, or operating with surpluses? Request to see the past few audits, and check the organization out on a site like Guidestar.
Does the board include a qualified financial expert or two (unless that’s what you’re being recruited for!) to provide strong, fiduciary oversight?
8. Recruitment
Does the organization have a board commitment form (or job description) that clearly outlines what will be expected of you?
Is it clear exactly which skills or expertise the board needs from you?
Is there an orientation process for new members to ensure you will have all the information you need in order to be a knowledgeable and effective board member?
9. Board Management
Does the board have a formal process to assess itself?
Does the board evaluate the executive director?
Are meetings scheduled regularly?
10. Board Development
Does the board educate its members about governance roles and responsibilities?
Is training provided in fundraising and other tasks?
This checklist is adapted from Nonprofit Board Service for the Genius.