3 Well-Intended Recruitment Strategies That Sabotage Nonprofit Boards

There are many reasons nonprofit organizations should engage in ongoing and active recruitment of new board members; however, there are two reasons that tend to drive the recruitment strategies of most, especially small and newly formed organizations: The bylaws require a minimum number of board members, and the board is responsible for ensuring the nonprofit has adequate financial sources.

Nonprofits that focus on filling seats and filling the bank instead of identifying board prospects with a passion for (or at least a genuine interest in) its mission and purpose, use well-intended recruitment strategies that ultimately sabotage the board. Here are a few strategies that though they may be well-intended, do more harm than good to a nonprofit board and its organization:

Who’s Who Recruiting

In every community, there are people whose names open doors. And getting those people on your board isn’t a bad thing. However, their names alone won’t be enough to meet all of the responsibilities of a board member. So like everyone else, recruiting of these people should have less to do with their name and influence and more to do with their passion for or interest in your cause. If not, you will likely find their commitment is limited to allowing you to put their name on your marketing materials and making an occasional call on behalf of the organization.

Serving on a nonprofit board requires just that --- service. If you are going to recruit a “Who’s Who” to your board, ensure that they are fully committed to serve. During the recruitment process, provide the prospect with a copy of the bylaws and a copy the board member position description which outlines all of their responsibilities. Review these with the prospect and ensure that they agree to meet all of the outlined responsibilities before voting them onto your board.

I Can Twist His Arm

In board recruitment, “no” means NO! In developing your board prospect list, there will be individuals you feel would make an invaluable addition to your board. It may be because they have a skillset your board desperately needs, their passion for your cause, their influence, or their capacity to give significant financial support. Whatever the reason, you want them! But when asked, they say no. What should you do?

Some nonprofits take the twist their arm approach. This is particularly the case where the prospect is a friend or close acquaintance of the person doing the recruiting. They keep asking and asking and asking until the prospect finally says yes. But what kind of board service can you expect from someone whose arm had to be twisted? In most cases, the minimum is their maximum.  If a board prospect says no, respect their decision. Offer them other ways to get involved, such as volunteering on a committee. Getting them involved in a way that requires less commitment could increase their passion for your cause and result in a more committed board member in the future.

Term Limits-Shmerm Limits!

One of my biggest pet peeve when it comes to nonprofit boards is the lack of term limits or the lack of enforcement. Term limits (and there should be limits) are there to ensure a nonprofit’s leadership remains fresh, energized and committed to the nonprofit’s mission and purpose. Board service requires a commitment of time and resources. When it comes to time commitments, members attend board meetings, committee meetings, events and other activities. When it comes to resources, board members commit to both making personal donations and soliciting and securing gifts from others. And if every member of the board isn’t serving at the same level, those that give the most in their time, talent and resources can easily burnout.

Additionally, a lot can change in someone’s life over a few years. For example, life experience can change one’s passions and interests. Term limits are designed to prevent board members who have burned out or whose interests have changed from feeling obligated to continue on the board. And yet it happens. I’ve had the experience of attempting to secure a gift from a board member whose service had continued without interruption for 45 years! Naturally, when asked to give, he informed me that he and his wife focused their philanthropic activities on supporting cancer research. Life experience had changed their passion and interests. Despite having the capacity to give thousands of dollars, he gave me a check for $100.

No matter how tempting it is to ignore them, enforce your board’s term limits. Allow board members the opportunity to recharge their battery and return in the future, or to serve an organization whose mission better matches their new passions and interests.

Keep doing good and creating opportunities for people to do good with you!

Michelle Nusum-Smith, an experienced nonprofit leader, consultant, coach and trainer, is a self-proclaimed “Do-gooder who helps do-gooders to do good.” Michelle is the owner and principal consultant at The Word Woman LLC, a nonprofit consulting company. She has nearly 20 years nonprofit experience, including program development, financial management, fundraising (including grantwriting and individual donor cultivation), human resource management, marketing and public relations, board relations, and event planning.

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