Page 59 - Washington Nonprofit Handbook 2018 Edition

CHAPTER 15. Board Development

a. Recruitment of Directors

Every nonprofit desires and deserves a committed, knowledgeable, and
effective board of directors. A nonprofit corporation should choose its directors
carefully, in light of the needs of the corporation as well as the talents and
characteristics of current and prospective board members. Areas to consider
include:

y Personal qualities such as enthusiasm, creativity, passion for the
cause(s) of the organization, and interpersonal skills;

y Skills and knowledge in areas such as marketing, evaluation, human
resources, legal affairs, finance, fundraising, management, leadership,

and the organization’s service area(s); and

y Demographics such as age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

It is also important to ensure that the board is exposed to the perspectives of

those being served by the organization. To this end, some nonprofit organizations
make an effort to recruit former clients or customers to serve on the board (it is
generally not advisable to have current clients serving on the board). Other options
include establishing a “client advisory board” or developing a system for gathering
input from clients on a regular basis.

b. Orientation and Training

The foundation of an effective board of directors is orientation and
education. A board orientation program should be provided for all new board
members, and the orientation should include time for socializing and relationship
building. Potential topics for an orientation program include:

y Organizational history;

y Vision, mission, values;

y Current programs;

y Organizational priorities and significant issues/challenges;

y Budget, including an overview of major sources of funding;

WASHINGTON NONPROFIT HANDBOOK -48- 2018