By: Kathryn Ruscitto, Advisor
Throughout my career I have served on a variety of Not for Profit Boards. It’s a way to serve the community, open doors, connect people and causes, and to learn Boards can help you to build new skills, connect with new parts of the community, begin to plan for things you want to do in your free time or in retirement. Good Board members want to learn and aren’t afraid to ask questions. Recently I was at the View Arts Center in Old Forge and met a new surgeon who had moved to Syracuse. She had taken the time to explore not for profit arts organizations in the region and was visiting them to get to know the region.
Boards function differently, and expectations of Board members can vary. It really is important to think through why you are joining a Board and what your expectations are for that service.
Some simple guidelines should always be part of a Board members thinking: What is expected of me: time, donations, terms of service.
What do I expect from the organization: following state and federal guidelines, communications on meetings and important issues.
How do you go about deciding on a Board or getting to know what organizations might be a good fit? Talk to colleagues, look at their current Board list, call and talk to the Executive Director. Many of you attend community fundraisers, also a good place to ask about Board service.
The Boards I have enjoyed the most, pushed what I knew, and connected me to best practice ideas. The Boards I found frustrating provided information but didn’t use my skills or ask for help.
Not for profits are local, regional and national. Some belong to larger associations or organizations that have Boards at multiple levels. Board service in a not for profit is as a volunteer and is uncompensated. Organizations carry Board and officer insurance coverage to protect Board members.
There are also For Profit Boards of start ups and businesses that seek certain disciplines for their Boards and do provide compensation and other benefits. These Boards choose members primarily through other Board members. The services that promise to get you a Board seat in exchange for a fee are unproven.
Some mix of Board service across for profits and not for profits during a career is desirable.
Resources:
www.councilofnonprofits.o g/running-nonprofit/ governance leadership/board-roles and-responsibilities
www.boardeffect.com/blog pros-cons-nonprofit-board-membership/
www.boardsource.org/fundamental-topics-of-nonprofit-boardservice/roles-responsibilities/
Kathryn Ruscitto, Advisor, can be reached at linkedin.com/in/kathrynruscitto or at krusct@gmail.com