Page 20 - BEQ Magazine Vol 4, Iss 4 (01032020 Final)_Active

QUEER BOARD

Connecting volunteers

with opportunities to

MATCH serve at the next level

By Ryann Brooks

dentifying and recruiting potential board members

to a board of directors can be a challenge for
T
Imany non-profit organizations. For those serving

the LGBTQ+ community, the challenge can be even

greater — both for the boards seeking new voices and
individuals wishing to volunteer.

In an effort to demystify the pro- nonprofits and volunteers that
cess, TurnOut expanded its mission he started noticing a pattern of TurnOut Executive Director Jack Beck welcomes attendees to the first Queer
with the creation of its LGBTQ+ boards in need of board members Board Match event . / courtesy photo
Nonprofit Board Forum series and and willing volunteers without the
Queer Board Match, a program knowledge of how to find a seat on ing new board members. The fact solve these critical issues,” he said.
designed to equip individuals and a board. that there was this kind of response “TurnOut’s mission of educating
nonprofit organizations with the Out of that knowledge, Queer for this level of leadership was, I LGBT professionals to better-pre-
tools, knowledge and support they Board Match was born. The early think, really incredible.” pare them for and connect them to
need to develop and retain high-im- response was confirmation of the Brett Andrews, CEO of Bay nonprofit board service is critical to
pact boards of directors. need for such an event. Area nonprofit PRC, sees Queer mobilizing efforts and marshaling
Founded in 2015, TurnOut has “When we sent out our initial Board Match as an opportunity to resources – bringing greater pur-
been working to support and con- invitation, we had over 100 people bring various stakeholders together pose and value to our lives.”
nect members of the LGBTQ+ sign up in the first 24 hours which to tackle issues that impact the com- The forum was designed to un-
communities with nonprofits in was a response beyond anything munity. ravel the mystery that may surround
need of volunteers in the San that we expected,” Beck said. “Ul- “Given the pressing needs in nonprofit leadership, with panels
Francisco Bay area with great suc- timately we had almost 350 people our community, we know it’s going focusing on board service and what
cess. Founder and Executive Di- register, and we had more than 100 to take the collective effort of gov- it means to serve on a board of di-
rector Jack Beck said it was in the come, which is wild because non- ernment, nonprofits and the com- rectors. It can be intimidating to be
course of connecting with those profits have such a hard time find- munity at-large coming together to approached for a board position

20 | Winter 2019/2020 businessequalitymagazine.com