Board Recruitment & Activation - Steps to A Transformational Board (Webinar)

in Webinar Recaps, Nonprofits and Causes, Main Streets, Chambers

We hosted Jenn Goldman of Jennifer E. Goldman to discuss practical approaches to creating a more functional and effective nonprofit board with an eye toward Main Streets and Downtowns as well as smaller Chambers of Commerce.

This webinar provides insights for Executive Directors and staff as well as board members looking to grow their impact and build a legacy.

Watch the board activation webinar recording >>

Activities and Culture for a Great Board

Fundamentally, many lack understanding when it comes to what a local nonprofit board is meant to do and what a successful board looks like. Notably, these boards are not meant to be merely governance boards.

Jenn shared practical strategies and tips, such as regular training sessions and clearly defined roles, to keep board members engaged and motivated. She stated, “There’s a big difference between serving on a board and just sitting on one.” This underscores the need for active participation and involvement from board members, rather than passive attendance.

We went further discussing how small gestures like t-shirts and name tags can make a big difference in board member engagement. Jenn elaborated on how these small tokens can create a sense of belonging and recognition, encouraging board members to take more pride in their roles and responsibilities.

The Inverted Board Recruitment Pyramid

A notable approach Jenn shared was to build a pipeline of contributors by first recruiting volunteers for specific activities or projects. Once a volunteer participates, you may invite them to a committee and once they demonstrate themselves to be a positive member you can invite them to join the board.

This creates a natural vetting process and helps them know what they're getting into - managing expectations is important.

From a marketing perspective, recognizing volunteers - along with board members and donors - is a great way to keep them coming back and recruiting more.

Part of this process is to ask why they got involved and what else they're excited about, this helps you identify areas they can grow their contribution.

Watch the Webinar

Go deeper by exploring how the board can contribute to fundraising, setting and managing meeting expectations, when to reduce your meetings, and more.