CEO Adviser: Its Not About You

“To make a difference is not a matter of accident.

What the late Maya Angelou said applies to all volunteers. Our communities are better because we give of ourselves. And many of us give our time and resources willingly.

But before agreeing to serve on a nonprofit board, be aware that this commitment represents a more complex form of volunteerism. Its about being creative with your skills and experience to help a community organization fulfill its mission. Its about personal fulfillment and professional growth. Its about your money. And its about your time. Expect to be engaged as a board member and possibly in other volunteer roles for multiple years, recognizing that each nonprofit has its own term limits.

According to BVU: The Center for Nonprofit Excellence, board service should be a win-win situation. People gain valuable skills; nonprofits get professional expertise.
Ensuring a good match is up to you. So before joining a nonprofit board, gather some facts:

Mission. What does the organization stand for?
Scope. What is its size and what geographical area does it serve?
Impact. What does it achieve and who benefits?
Structure. Where is it in its life cycle?
Time. How much time is required; when and where are meetings?
Skills. Can you use your skill set to make a difference?
Money. What are you expected to donate annually?

Review the organizations strategic plan and financial reports, and meet with the organizations chief executive and key board members. Ask for a fellow board member mentor.

Keep in mind that youre in this to make a difference. Dont shy away from an organization in financial distress or one whose strategic plan lacks focus. This may be the place you are most needed.

The clearest path to making a difference through your board service is by understanding your role. First and foremost, your job is to help set the mission, vision and strategic direction of the organization as well as to support and supervise the executive director. You have a critical role in governance, fundraising initiatives and community relations.

The strongest boards take their responsibilities seriously, act with integrity and value financial oversight. They exhibit:

A clear sense of purpose
An emphasis on results and outcomes
A relevant board and committee structure
An appreciation for competency and diversity
An understanding of succession planning
A focus on board member education and engagement
A respect for structured, effective meetings

Know what awaits you! You bear the responsibility for ensuring that the nonprofit meets its obligations to donors, staff, volunteers, clients and the public. You may have to help replace the executive director or conduct a capital fund drive. The skills you gain through these challenges are immeasurable, especially if you dig in to make a difference and stay long enough to gain the institutional knowledge needed to lead effectively.

I reflect with pride and satisfaction on my 15-plus years of board service to Seattle BioMed. What started in a strip mall in 1976 is now the worlds largest independent nonprofit organization devoted solely to researching the worlds infectious diseases. My early board service meant doing basic bookkeeping for the organization on weekends. As the organization matured, the board did, too, stretching to conduct a capital campaign and building a $37 million state-of-the-art research center whose work is now supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and more than 500 foundation, corporate and individual donors.

Board service is one of the most direct ways to make an impact in your community, especially when you dig in, apply what you learn and pass it along to the next generation of difference makers.

Jeff Wortley is senior vice president of KeyBanks wealth practice. Reach him at [email protected]. This is the first of two CEO Adviser columns about serving on nonprofit boards. Next months will focus on fiduciary responsibility.