Key Characteristics for NPO Board Members
Posted on 25 July, 2022 at 10:26
In almost every newsletter release at the end of and
during the beginning of the year, there are calls for suitably qualified
individuals to join Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) Boards, normally on a purely
volunteering basis – no board emoluments and occasionally the only benefit
would be for travel and accommodation for meetings. So it is normal for
mid-career individuals to “try this out” just to spice up their career
profiles. You will get the most impressive resumes and during interviews the
shortlisted candidates will exude a lot of energy, enthusiasm and eloquence
that will throw the interviewers off the main focus for the positions. Serving
in an NPO Board is sharply different from sitting in a corporate boardroom.
Whilst the overall goal in the corporate sector is the enhancement of
shareholder value (it’s about the money), objectives for NPOs are more complex;
they involve the communities, the natural environment, service delivery, animal
welfare amongst other objectives. An excellent corporate board member can be
the worst if put in an NPO set-up and vice-versa. There are particular
characteristics that should be looked at when appointing members for NPO
Boards.
Passionate
about the cause: There is nothing worse than a
board member for an environmental organisation who owns a manufacturing plant
that pollutes a nearby water body, or a board chairperson with proven paedophilic
convictions serving on a child protection organisation’s board. Well maybe
these are extremes but the point is if you are not passionate about something,
you will be less inclined to work hard for it. Sure, there are plenty of
professional fundraisers and wealthy individuals you could ask to sit on your
board, but how many are truly passionate about your cause? Interest in the cause
is the foundation that every prospective board member ought to have. There is
no exception to this rule.
Forward
thinking: Looking for candidates who have a
“forward” mindset will help your nonprofit in the long run. These candidates
are outside-the-box thinkers who look for solutions to problems you might not
even know your organization has. They want to grow the cause and will help push
the rest of your board on vision changes and innovations when necessary.
Open-minded: In a group setting with many different viewpoints, keeping an open
mind allows for healthy communication. Board members that come in with an open
mind are far more likely to empower other board members to express their point
of view and work toward solutions.
Meeting
commitment: I often get an annoying feeling when I
the meeting chair asks for corrections to last minutes and some members present
appear clueless and even start reading the minutes at that time, giving excuses
such as “It must have been sent to my email spam”. A good board member is one
who will commit to prepare for meetings on time. Another show of commitment is
the consistent presence at board meetings. These are usually held only
periodically, normally every quarter; surely a committed member can properly
synchronise their calendars to be present for at least 75% of the time.
Natural
givers: Some corporate board members would be
concerned with “What’s in it for me?”. For NPO Boards it is more about “What
can I give towards this cause?”. A good NPO Board member is one with ability or
propensity to give of their resources towards the cause.
Takes
responsibility for outcomes: A position that gives
major decision-making powers to any individual comes with a great deal of
responsibility. Look for candidates who have a record of taking responsibility
in decision-making environments, especially in team settings, when things have
gone well and when they’ve gone wrong.
Communication
skills: Board members are not only the governing
body of your non-profit, they are also partly the face of your organization.
They communicate with large donors, they make speeches on behalf of your
non-profit, and they make statements to the media. Effective communication
skills are definitely desired for any prospective board member.
Respectful of
others: It’s impossible to act in a team setting if
members of the team don’t respect one another. While this also seems like a
self-evident trait to look for, some are better at disguising their lack of
respect than others. Before making a decision on a new member for your board,
look out for these warning signs of disrespect, such as interrupting or
consistent tardiness, so you can weed out those who won’t mesh with the team
when it matters most.
A willingness
to learn: “The more I learn, the more I realize how
much I don’t know.” This is my favorite quote from Albert Einstein. It
perfectly encapsulates the mentality that your prospective board members need
to bring to the table. A willingness to learn will encourage others on your
board to express their viewpoints and share their experience, knowing that
another board member is open to learning from others.
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The above characteristics are not exhaustive of what
you should desire for your NPO, but these should get you thinking and come up
with more characteristics relevant for your organisation.