Board Member

[Anonymous]

How do you become a board member? I'm not talking about big defense companies etc - more like a board member of the National Zoo etc.

[Anonymous]

I’m a board member of my kids daycare. You express interest + know someone on the board (I think this is key).

But obvs a daycare board isn’t very glamorous.

[Anonymous]

Start donating money, like a lot, and start meeting executives and other board members through the events you get invited to through that. Then express an interest. Helps to have previous board experience in other nonprofits, because those big DC museums, zoo, etc. are definitely the big leagues or nonprofit boards.

Also, for a lot of those kinds of “high end” boards, the members work for their big corporate donors. Essentially, a lot of the big corporate donors get to control a board seat.

[Anonymous]

You have to give (significant funds), get (get significant funds donated by friends and family) or be an super volunteer. That's why they would want you in the board. Like a pp, I've always been asked to be on boards where I was active and involved with my kids (pre-school, church, PTA, sports activitiy programs). And I work at a non-profit. Show interest and show up.

[Anonymous]

BYW The National Zoo and similar organizations are competitive and connected. Start small: your pool, church, school etc

[Anonymous]

most boards require you to 1) either personally give a ton of money or 2) raise a ton of money from your rich friends

[Anonymous]

Why do you want to join one?

[Anonymous]

Yes money talks and gets you on lots of boards, but even the big donor boards generally have a few spots for people who have a lot of experience with the subject at hand. Either you’re an attorney and have work experience that could be helpful with the board, you are knowledgeable about the cause, etc.

[Anonymous]

Most non-profits I have been involved with are actually very skeptical about putting someone on the board who just donates big bucks. Their fear is that they'll start trying to make policy and steer the organization just because they've thrown money at them. This is kind of a nightmare for a non-profit, as often the big donors have only the most basic understanding of what the organizations do, and have no idea how they are run.

Best thing to do is to catalog your skills and look for organizations that would benefit from them. Attend the organization's events, join as a member if it's that type of org, and research who's currently on the board.

The approach can be pretty simple. Contact the board chair and say you are interested in their mission, have skills, X, Y, and Z, and would like to become involved, possibly as a board member.

Some orgs will look for volunteers, and that can be a good way of proving your capabilities before asking about a board membership.

But one question to ask is why you would like to be on a board. I am on a couple, and frankly it is a massive PITA with no payoff other than a satisfaction for a job well done. That is, there's no pay, little recognition, navigation of painful bureaucracy, endless meetings, and often frustrating co-members.