How to Start a Nonprofit: Board Recruitment
If you have an idea for social impact that keeps you up at night, and you have considered starting a nonprofit, then this blog series is for you. Starting any organization may feel like an impossible task, but with the right instruction, the impossible can become a reality. Join us for this series and follow me, Spark Group Founder, Mary Gladstone-Highland on my path to establishing a Toy Library in my hometown,
During our first blog in this series, we looked at how to create business plans that set you up for success. This next installment will focus on Board recruitment. Nonprofit organizations and their Board of Directors go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other. Check with your state legislature to determine how many board members are required. In Michigan, you must have a minimum of 3 individuals serving on your board.
However, the other than meeting the required minimum, you will have the final say over the number of those that you select. Smaller boards mean more autonomy and control for the staff with possibly a higher workload for each member. In contrast, larger groups are harder to coordinate but may lead to lower workloads and higher subsequent stakeholder recruitment.
Once you have your number in mind, it is time to create your list of persons you plan to approach. Make sure to brainstorm more options than you intend to end up with because not everyone will have the time to commit.
Consider these questions when identifying potential individuals:
What skills and attributes will benefit the mission of the organization?
Who has the time to commit and the connections that will help us succeed?
Will these individuals hold our client’s needs in their best interest?
Do these persons represent a diversity of age, gender, socio-economic status, race, and physical abilities?
After you have your list of potential individuals in mind, it is time to send some emails and make some calls. When starting the Dearborn Toy Library, the board recruitment period involved A LOT of coffee. I quickly became aware of the great coffee and breakfast locations in my area.
When inviting persons to those coffee dates, I sent an email or asked them in person if they would be willing to meet with me to hear about an exciting new organization I was in the process of creating. During the meetings, I came prepared with clear and attractive documents as well as a compelling 3-minute explanation of the Toy Library I envisioned. In addition to the business plan, I provided potential board members with a board packet.
Board Packet documents:
Board Commitment Summary
Board Responsibilities
Board Member Contract
Conflict of Interest Form.
Lastly, I made sure first to ask individuals that I was reasonably confident would agree to join the board. Then, I asked for their support in identifying additional individuals and in attending meetings. One Dearborn Toy Library board member, in particular, was a fantastic advocate and support in the recruitment process. This support helped to bolster confidence and ended up helping me to secure commitments from seven other incredible individuals.
The board recruitment process can seem scary. If you are resilient and understand that you will receive some nos if you are well prepared for your meeting, and if you can share the excitement, then you should be able to recruit a great group of folks who will help you make your nonprofit dream a reality.
Do you want more help in establishing the nonprofit of your dreams? If so, set up an initial consultation today, Spark Group can help!
Watch out for our next blog in this series: Creating your Nonprofit Budget and Fundraising Plan!
