Why joining a nonprofit board will further your career
All nonprofit organizations have a board of directors that is legally responsible for guiding their governance, budgeting, and strategic planning. From food banks to literacy organizations, every established nonprofit is run by a mix of staff and volunteers.
My experience on several nonprofit boards has taught me about organizational governance, financial planning — and even political savviness. Volunteering on a board has definitely strengthened my career prospects, and that’s why I would like to encourage others to consider applying for a board position. To date, I’ve sat on boards of directors for my student union, our campus newspaper, and a community radio station, but my advice is transferrable to those looking to do board work in other nonprofit fields.
Have you ever managed a $5 million budget?
Chances are that most of you do not hold the purse strings to an account with millions. However, sitting on a board of directors gives you the opportunity to learn about auditing and financial planning for large organizations.
While sitting on a board, you will also learn about fiduciary duty, which is the concept that board members are legally responsible for the corporation that they represent. Depending on the organization that you work with, you might also dive into legal matters such as a governance review — or even a lawsuit.
Volunteer experience on a board is incredibly useful for pretty much any career. I initially became interested in joining a board because I was working in the nonprofit sector, and nonprofit professionals have an obvious interest in joining a board. However, individuals working in other fields can also reap the benefits. For example, if you are applying to med school, then demonstrating a background in charitable board work would show that you want to help other people. And if you are a budding engineer, then board experience could prove that you have the soft skills to fit into a tight-knit team. Regardless of your profession, board work shows that you have enough dedication to show up to unpaid meetings, pour over financial documents, and assume legal responsibility for an organization.
Boards are an amazing place to meet professionals, including both senior leaders and your peers. Nonprofit boards attract motivated and intelligent people, and that’s why you can meet awesome people through board work. Your fellow board members will value the time that you put into your board, and they may even support you through a job search or a hunt for a new mentor.
However, it is essential to only work with organizations that you’re really passionate about! If health policy is your jam, then you shouldn’t apply to the board of a women’s shelter in order to pad your CV. Just because a board spot is conveniently open doesn’t mean you should take it! Trust me when I say that you will make a bigger difference in the field of your dreams.
Volunteer work is just like paid employment opportunities; you need to think about your fit with an organization. The last thing you want to do is become bored with your volunteer work and either quit prematurely or ghost your responsibilities. That’s why you need to pick an organization that you love and stay dedicated to the cause.
It might sound daunting to apply for a board seat, but it’s possible to start small and work your way up. Firstly, you should look for a little community organization that aligns with your beliefs. If there isn’t any information on their website about how to join their board, then it is appropriate to email an employee and inquire about possible opportunities.
However, you will get bonus points if you start out volunteering with an organization's programs and then gradually branch out to more senior roles, such as being a board member. Think about volunteer work as a longterm commitment and ask yourself how you can help an organization as much as possible. You should also keep in mind that some nonprofits require you to join a committee of the board before you can serve on the actual board itself. Don’t worry about that kind of requirement, because you will gain valuable experience from sitting on a committee, which could be related to finance, governance, or programming.
After establishing yourself with several years of dedicated board work, you’ll be closer to moving to the nonprofit board of your dreams. Whether it’s the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Amnesty International, any big organization will value previous board experience. Take a moment to dream big and visualize the places where you want to volunteer for over the next 10, 15, or even 20 years. You just might end up in their board rooms one day!
This article has focussed on the career benefits of nonprofit board work, but I still need to stress that the biggest accomplishment from volunteering comes from helping others. Whether you are on the board for a minor league baseball tournament or a local hospital, your volunteer work will help improve people’s lives. This sense of satisfaction is far more valuable than adding another business card to your wallet! Although I believe this more than anything, I also support the idea of making volunteer work an integral part of your career path. If you plan ahead, then you will inevitably accomplish more in the long run.
