Recruiting "movers and shakers" to your nonprofit's board

I am regularly asked about how to recruit board members. I hear things like, "I don't know any good candidates" and "I can't make connections with the 'movers and shakers'". In growing your board, you may be having similar thoughts. If so, I have to ask:

• Who are these 'movers and shakers' and why do you think you need them?
• Are they the people who's pictures you see in the newspaper?
• Are they people who already sit on the boards of  "prestigious organizations" ?
• Are they the people you think have lots of money to support your organization and lots of friends with money, too?

The reality is those so-called movers and shakers may never be interested in serving on your board. And if by chance they did agree to it, would they be the active, engaged and passionate people you need?

Don't underestimate the value of the people around you. Judging a book by its cover can be costly -- any way you look at it.

When building your board, think about what you really need and not what you think you should have. That "nobody" you overlook today could become a "mover and shaker" tomorrow. Wouldn't it be better to already have him/her committed to your organization?

Recruiting board members is challenging for most nonprofits. Finding people with a passion for your cause; the skills your organization needs; a willingness to commit their time, talent and treasure (money); and an existing understanding of how to serve on a nonprofit board is literally like finding a needle in a haystack!

Just like in recruiting for any other position, identifying and vetting good candidates takes time. Additionally, even if someone looks good on paper, they may not be a good fit.

 

Building the board of your dreams requires a strategic approach that shouldn't be rushed. Most importantly, you should know what you need and write it down before you begin recruiting. There are two key questions to which you should have written answers:

1. What skills should exist on the board? The top two are legal and financial. Having board members with these skills will result in cost savings for your organization. But you might also want someone with skills in marketing, business management, human resource management and fundraising. You should also have someone who represents your targeted beneficiary population. And, diversity is a must!
2. What will board members be expected to give? This question relates to their time, talent and treasure. You should have a detailed description of board member duties and responsibilities. Successful board recruitment requires a clear understanding and agreement of expectations from you and each prospective board member.

There’s a grant for that!

I am approached regularly by people who ask, “Can you write me a grant?” Some are current nonprofit leaders, some are aspiring nonprofit founders and others are current or aspiring entrepreneurs. They all have an idea and an expectation – someone, somewhere will give them money for their idea.  It’s almost like Apple’s 2008 slogan "There's an app for that” or bet yet, their 2010 slogan "There's an app for everything".

People come to me thinking not only “there’s a grant for everything” but getting a grant for anything is as easy as going to the App Store℠ and hitting download. If only!

There is a process for securing a grant and it starts with something that unfortunately too many prospective grantees are not -- grant ready.

Here are some questions to help you to determine if your organization is grant ready:

·     Has your organization secured the 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the IRS? Though this is not a requirement for all grantmakers, most grantmakers will not provide funding to a nonprofit without a valid 501(c)(3) status determination letter from the IRS.

·     Have we determined specifically why we are seeking a grant?  Most grantmakers giving is guided by specific priorities and areas of interest. Additionally, many limit how their support can be used. Grantmakers may have limits such as populations served, geographic boundaries, and types of expenditures. 

Here are examples of key questions to which you should have answers before pursuing a grant:

Who will we serve? What is the demographic profile(s) of your target population?

Where will we serve? Community? City?  State?

How will we serve? What will be your program delivery model?

Why are we offering the program?  What evidence do you have that your proposed program is needed/wanted? What outcomes or impact do you expect to achieve?

What is our budget? Answering the previous questions will assist you in developing your budget.

Whether you plan to engage a professional grant writer or to prepare grant proposals internally, you should know and understand the grantwriting process. That’s why I am offering a Grantwriting 101 webinar on Saturday, February 23 at 1:00 pm (EST) and Wednesday, February 27, at 3:00 pm (EST). I’ll provide a step-by-step review of the standard sections of the grant proposal; do's and don'ts; and tips on how and when to communicate with grant makers.You can still register here.  Register today!