If You Don’t Have Passion for and Commitment to the Organization, Get Off the Board

What do you think about when you consider serving on or recruiting for the board of a not-for-profit organization?

As a potential board member, hopefully you are first and foremost passionate about the mission of the organization. Beyond that, organizations look for board members who have: 1) time to give to the work of the board, 2) talent – skills and experiences needed by the board, 3) treasure – either funds to contribute or a willingness to contact potential donors on the organization’s behalf, and 4) testimony - a motivation to be an ambassador for the organization and speak out on its behalf.

Johnson and Wallace Consulting offers board development sessions to enhance the capacity of boards to fulfill their responsibilities. We help boards better understand their role and that of individual board members, assist in the development of tools to aid the board in carrying out its obligations, and more. But here we’d like to discuss the individual board member. Every board needs committed board members to successfully meet their obligations to the organization. With that in place you can build the rest, as individuals committed to an organization are most likely willing to do the necessary work to foster a strong and effective board.  

We often hear board members say, “We are just volunteers.” Ouch! Volunteers in every capacity are indispensable to not-for-profit organizations. No such thing as being JUST a volunteer. So, what is implied when a board member says this? Are they stating they don’t have time to do what is needed or required of them as a board member? Do they think they shouldn’t be expected to go beyond their customary obligations to attend to difficult situations? Do they not want to make difficult decisions? Maybe they don’t realize how essential their work is to the success of the organization? Perhaps as a board member you are making an excuse to limit your level of commitment to the work of the board.  

Let us be blunt. If this is your mindset as a board member, we hope to either help you come to a different understanding or respectfully suggest you get off the board. There are many other ways you can contribute your time, talent, treasure, and/or testimony to an organization.

A board is especially vital to the operations of a not-for-profit. In partnership with the executive director/CEO, they support and help guide the organization, enabling it to meet the mission for which it was created. Not-for-profits occupy wide-ranging roles in supporting the well-being of people and communities as government agencies and the private sector have reduced their assistance. They attend to a considerable scope of social needs, have a societal and economic impact on most sectors of society, and are vital to public policy and advocacy.

Strong, well-functioning not-for-profit boards undergird the success of their organizations. However, in our experience far too many boards unintentionally undermine that success in myriad ways. Board members don’t fully show up for their work. Difficult discussions don’t take place. Decisions aren’t made. Issues are left unaddressed, in limbo, for far too long. Resources aren’t secured, and appropriate financial oversight doesn’t occur. If boards don’t attend to their responsibilities well and in a timely manner, the organization is often unable to meet the challenges before them effectively and efficiently. Organizational productivity and service quality may decrease, morale diminishes, staff feel unheard/unsupported and turnover increases, threats to the organization are missed, opportunities squandered. The organization risks lost time and resources, diminished capacity, and potentially failure – thereby leaving unmet the needs the organization was created to meet, among other conceivable consequences.

The decisions boards do or don’t make impact the real, day-to-day lives of people, or animals, and/or the world around us. If you are occupying a board position for any reason other than a true commitment to the organization and the work it does, with an intent to fulfill your role to the best of your ability and a willingness to do the work . . . don’t.

With commitment also comes accountability. Boards are made up of individuals. Individual board members who are passionate about the organization and committed to its success are much more likely to be accountable to the organization, to the other board members, and to holding the board accountable for carrying out its responsibilities – in good times and in difficult ones. Each member becomes an essential part of ensuring a board does what is needed so the organization can bring its mission to fruition. Individual board members are integral to effecting organizational success and sustainability.

We’ll end with the following:

If you are going to serve on a board, here are just a few things to consider.

·       Why are you interested in serving on a board and why this particular organization?

·       Are you aware of your responsibilities as a board member and are you willing to meet them?

·       What do you bring to the board?

·       Are you willing to introduce your contacts to the organization, promote the organization, and garner support for it in the community?

·       What do you need from the organization to be an effective board member?

Remember, if you serve on a board you were likely recruited because you have expertise, skills, experiences, passion, etc. that are needed by the organization. Are you using those tools to help advance the organization – or are you taking up space?

Note: The above holds true for boards of any organization or institution, not only not-for-profits.

Johnson and Wallace Consulting is passionate about supporting the success and sustainability of not-for-profits and therefore about the effectiveness of their boards. Future posts will address other key issues crucial to building a successful board that works for the organization.