Board Life Matters is a national sounding board designed to inspire and engage the next generation in nonprofit board service.
Part of the mission of this blog, with good reason, is to inspire and engage the next generation in nonprofit board service. The BoardSource Nonprofit Governance Index 2007 found that 2 percent of board members were under 30 years old, 36 percent were 30-49, 49 percent were 50-64, and 13 percent were over 65. (more…)
David Sternberg
It seems I always hear the same response from board members when I ask why they’re reluctant to ask for a contribution: they are unsure of what to say. They seem to believe there is a magic set of words that all board members should know. If anyone out there knows those words: share them with me, please!
….I didn’t think so.
But never fear. (more…)
Anna Tegen
I must confess that I’m not particularly fond of New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps it’s because I don’t like ultimatums and, in a way, New Year’s resolutions are ultimatums to yourself. That said, I found myself driving through New Mexico over the holidays (a great experience—I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t done it), thinking about the year ahead (more…)
Vernetta Walker
One might think achieving inclusion across the board is a no-brainer. After all, we live in a diverse society where conversations about race, gender, and other characteristics that are an integral part of who we are as individuals are no longer relegated to hushed tones behind closed doors — or are they?
BoardSource recently conducted a survey of board members of color to learn about their experiences and perceptions on whether and how race impacted their experiences in nonprofit board rooms. (more…)
I recently co-facilitated a webinar for an organization that is promoting board service to its stakeholders – most of whom are Generations X and Y professionals and have never served on a board. The session addressed some standard questions about nonprofit board leadership: (more…)
David Sternberg
Nearly every board member I have encountered wants to be part of an organization that can effectively accomplish its mission—and has plenty of money to do so. They want to serve on the board, but they emphatically do not want to be fundraisers.
Hmmm…what is it about fundraising that strikes terror into the hearts of even the savviest board members? I have found that it can often be a matter of perspective: they believe in the mission; they just need to learn that storytelling about that mission can be the most powerful kind of fundraising. (more…)
David Styers
Did you have the opportunity to major in nonprofit board governance in college (of course not!), or even take any classes in nonprofit management (likely not)? Thus, most people come to board service with limited, if any, governance experience or formal training to be a successful board member. (more…)
David Styers
Looking for that perfect board to serve on? There may never be a perfect board, but hopefully you will be able to find the perfect board service opportunity for you. Nonprofit boards are everywhere, but sometimes it can be confusing how to join.
Often it seems boards just perpetuate themselves through adding friends of current or former board members and staff. (more…)
