How to Identify First-Rate Board Members

Attracting qualified people to serve on a board is among the most crucial tasks for any nonprofit.

Some of a nonprofit board member’s responsibilities are clear cut. A board of directors must, for instance, make sure the organization complies with Internal Revenue Service regulations for tax-exempt organizations. In addition to overseeing regulatory compliance, the board members must adhere to all other legal obligations and protect the organization’s interests.

The search for board members with relevant skills becomes even more important as a nonprofit grows and develops a higher profile. At established nonprofits, as board members turn over, many volunteers who want to be a trustee may surface. For younger nonprofits, recruiting new board members often means looking outside your inner circle. Either way, many of the qualities a good board member must possess, such as enthusiasm or a willingness to take on fundraising or other projects, may not be listed on a resume, and they can be difficult to assess.

Chris Kelly, vice president of PNC Institutional Asset Management, wrote a guide to help nonprofits evaluate a prospective trustee’s soft skills and intangible qualities to ensure that only productive and committed board members are selected.

Check out Succession Planning for Nonprofit Boards and Leadershipto help you find the best board members for your organization. The guide lists three common-sense chores a board member must perform, outlines the six characteristics of an excellent board member, and offers tips for evaluating candidates. The two-page guide also offers suggestions for smart succession planning.