To Join or Not to Join a Nonprofit Organization

To Join or Not to Join
If invited to join a nonprofit organization’s governing board, many people would likely be flattered and therefore eager to accept. There are some important questions, however, that should be asked and answered before anyone accepts such a position (Johnson, 2014). To this end, this paper reviews the literature to identify what a prudent prospective board member should find out prior to accepting a position on a governing board, followed by a summary of the research and important findings concerning these issues in the conclusion.
What prospective board members need to know
The first thing a prospective board member should seek to learn is the purpose and mission of the nonprofit organization. If its purpose and mission are contrary to an invitee’s personal and/or professional code of ethics or otherwise abhorrent, it is unlikely the invitation would be accepted. In addition, a prospective board member should also seek to learn the nonprofit’s budget, sources of funding, current board membership, the frequency and location of board meetings, the expectations and responsibilities of a board member and previous examples of the organization’s efforts, including both successes and failures. In addition, prospective board members should learn about the respective areas of professional expertise and experience of current board members.
Who prospective board members should talk to
Certainly, prospective board members should speak with current board members individually and informally to gain their insights and empirical observations concerning the board’s functioning and conflict resolution processes. In some cases, board members may have vastly different opinions concerning both the purpose and optimal strategies that should be used to accomplish the board’s mission (Wellens & Jegers, 2014). It will be equally important, though, to identify and speak with former board members (especially the individual being replaced) to determine if there are interpersonal conflicts or power coalitions (e.g., “cliques) on the board that limit the contributions of others. Indeed, many nonprofit organizations have experienced the loss of board members due to these and other governance issues (The sorry state of nonprofit boards, 2015). Finally, prospective board members should also speak with the recipients of any assistance that has been provided by the nonprofit to evaluate the actual positive effects of these efforts.
Documents prospective board members should review before responding to an invitation
The first document that should be reviewed is the nonprofit’s bylaws to gain an understanding of its founding principles as well as to determine whether it is dated and signed by all current board members. Other documents of interest include the organization’s tax filings, especially their Form 990s or Form 990-EZs, depending on their funding level.
Conclusion
Prior to accepting a position on a nonprofit organization’s governing board, the research showed that prudent prospective board members have much to consider, including what they need to know about the organization such as its purpose and mission, funding sources and budget and current board membership composition. Other questions that need to be answered include board members’ responsibilities and expectations and the reasons for past departures of board members. Finally, prospective board members should talk to current and former board members as well as past recipients of the nonprofit’s assistance and review the nonprofit’s bylaws and tax records to ensure that they are timely filed, signed and dated.

References
Harvard Business Review. (2015). The sorry state of nonprofit boards. Harvard Business Review, 93(9), 28.
Johnson, J. M. (2014). Nonprofit board membership: Should you accept the honor? NACD Directorship, 40(5), 8–9.
Wellens, L., & Jegers, M. (2013). Effective governance in nonprofit organizations: A literature based multiple stakeholder approach. European Management Journal, 32(2), 223–243.