Subscribe to LeadersMatter
Submit your email to receive our monthly newsletter dedicated to nonprofit leadership, careers and recruiting related topics.
Resources to Find Board Positions
After identifying the types of organizations that spark your passion, where do you find board positions? One way to start is to do some web research. Many nonprofits list their open board positions on their websites. For websites that post only a list of board members, a little sleuthing through the press release/announcements section of the website can often determine which members are near the end of their terms. Open board positions also can be found on Bridgestar, at VolunteerMatch, and in some cities on the United Way website’s BoardBank. Some community foundations maintain lists of open board positions and a number of executive search firms also recruit for nonprofit boards.
Professional and social networking also are often an effective way to find and investigate board opportunities. “Nothing really replaces networking—just talk to people,” said Linda Crompton, president and chief executive officer of BoardSource, a Washington, DC-based organization dedicated to building strong nonprofit boards and encouraging board service.
Professional networking websites, such as LinkedIn and Idealist, may help you expand your network and make connections to people who are affiliated with the board you are targeting. GuideStar also provides a wealth of data about nonprofits through its database of nonprofit tax filings and can be another source to identify people serving on nonprofit boards. Once you make your connections, Crompton suggests asking people about their board experience, for instance:
- What boards do they serve on?
- Do they know anybody who serves on the board at the nonprofit(s) in which you’re interested?
- Do they have any insights to share about their board service experiences?
Asking these questions will highlight your interest in finding a board position and could surface immediate board opportunities.
Resources to Find Board Positions
This work by The Bridgespan Group is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available on Bridgespan's Terms and Conditions page.
Related Content
Nonprofit Boards: How to Find a Rewarding Board Position
Serving on a nonprofit board can be a meaningful way to explore how your experience and expertise can be applied in the nonprofit sector at the governance level. The key to a rewarding experience is finding the right fit for your talents and interests.
What Should I Know Before Joining a Nonprofit Board?
Serving as a nonprofit board member is one of the most challenging and rewarding of volunteer assignments. While appointment or election to a board is an honor, board members have important legal and fiduciary responsibilities that require a commitment of time, skill, and resources. This article, from BoardSource, shares basic questions prospective nonprofit board members should ask before joining an organization’s board. Long-time nonprofit board members might also benefit from an organization review that answers these questions.