Recruiting the Right Board for the Right Job

William Ashton, Ph.D.

Welcome!

Who’s here? Recruiting is like Fund Raising

– Same benefits, same risks• Benefits

– New, good board members with the skills you need

• Risks– Time & expense– New, bad board members

Recruiting the Right Board for the Right Job

Getting Your House in Order

The Nomination Process

The Ask

Getting Your House in Order Who are you? What are the duties of your board

members? What are your current & future needs? What skills do you you already

possess? Are you ready for a new board

member?

Who Are You?

In 30 seconds … Describe your organization

– Mission– Why does the community need your

organization?

Exercise

Form groups of 3 persons Take 2 or 3 minutes to prepare

your 30 second description of your organization

Do it Get feedback from partners Total time: 10 Minutes

Duties of a Board Member

What is expected?– Time– Money

Why is this important?– People are more likely to commit to a

known than an unknown– Avoids do-nothing and surprised

board members

Duties of a Board Member

Insert Examples Here Board Duties

What are Your Needs?

Survey board and/or general members

Needs Survey– ask for current and future needs

Summarize Needs

Needs Surveys

Insert Examples Here Needs Survey Needs Survey Example

What Skills Do You Already Possess? Why are you looking for new

members?– what don’t you have; what do you need?

Develop Nomination Goals You may already have the skills you

are looking for!

Skill Survey

What Skills Do You Already Possess? Insert Examples Here Board Skill Survey

Skill Survey

Who responds?– All board members or committee?

What happens to the surveys?– Summarized or copied?

Who gets the summaries?– Nomination Committee or everyone?

Are you ready for new members? Orientation

– by-laws, minutes, budget, history Mentoring

new member executive committee leadership

Are you ready to useuse a new member? Appreciation program in place?

– Board members are your #1 volunteers#1 volunteers

Feedback

Form groups of about 10 persons each

Do do introductions Choose a recorder/spokesperson Discuss unique orientation ideas or

activities Share them with audience Time: 10 Minutes

The Nomination Process

Nomination Goals Finding Potential New Members

Doing your Homework

Nomination Goals

Needs - Skills = Goals

Family Service Association of Rice County Needs

– Fund Raising - Solicitation– Fund Raising - Donations– New Board Members– Leadership

Skills– New Board Members– Leadership

Finding New Members

Use Nomination Goals Where to look?

– volunteer service bureau, leadership association, churches, service clubs (Eagles, Kiwanis, lions, tigers & bears)

– Use your existing membership as contacts• friends, business associates etc.

Finding New Members

Insert Example Here New Member Suggestions

Do Your Homework

Find out as much as you can about prospects– ask around– discreetly

Rank prospects

Do Your Homework

Insert Example Here Example Nomination Report

The Ask

Just Like Fund Raising Avoid Cold Calls

– Invite to yearly meeting / committee– newsletter– People are more likely to commit to

time-bounded volunteer opportunities• create bridge opportunities

Bridge Opportunities

Ask them to join the organization Ask them to take part in a time-

bounded project– phone-a-thon– work at Halloween fundraiser

Guest Speaker Award

The Ask

Use Known Asker– at least to introduce you

Interview Method– use board survey questions and

nomination goals as interview questions Duties & Time

– Be painfully clear• you will avoid do-nothing and surprised

members

The Ask Role Play

Groups of 4 persons 5 minutes to prepare 5 minutes each role play

– 1 Asker - 30 second intro, small talk? interview? Bridge opportunity?

– 1 Prospect - flip coin (gunho/cautions)– 2 feedback

Switch

How Long Will It Take?

You can get bad members fast Going through a careful process will

take time Six to Twelve Months Nomination or Executive Committee

needs to think a year in advance– What will our board look like in one year?

Recruiting the Right Board for the Right Job

Thank you

Happy recruiting!

Questions & Answers …

Rights of Use of This Material

Some trainers are very protective of their materials – they’re afraid that they’re giving away their business. I feel that freely distributing information like this is just good advertising for a trainer or consultant. So please use my material as you see fit; with the provision that you, in print, reference me. Please use the following information – in full:

William Ashton, Ph.D. The City University of New York, York College Department of Political Science and

Psychology www.york.cuny.edu/~washton