Spring Break
Serving on a Nonprofit Board of Directors
A Rewarding Use of Your Skills
Kimberly Hyde (OB), Contributing Writer
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: News
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Mandy Taft-Pearman
A manager at The Bridgespan Group who has an MBA from Kellogg, and sits on the board of the Hale Reservation, a 1,200 acre land reservation located in Westwood, MA.
Pascha Griffiths
A mother of two and the founder and Executive Director of Possibilities Factory, an organization that empowers youth to improve their communities.
Arden O'Connor
An EC student from Section OD who founded Rediscovery, Inc, an organization that provides housing and other social services for children out of age for state-funded foster care homes. Arden is currently the Chairman of the Board for Rediscovery, Inc. and also sits on the board of the Harvard Club of Boston.
When deciding whether to serve on the board of a nonprofit, all three panelists emphasized the importance of being passionate about the mission of the organization. Mandy Taft-Pearman reminded us that, "you will be serving on a board after work, so choose something you are really passionate about. Do not do it just to boost your resume; that will not be satisfying for you." In order to find a board to serve on, Taft-Pearman recommended networking with friends and classmates. Other resources to connect with nonprofits looking for board members include the United Way (which hosts a series of Board Fairs in major cities around the US) and Board Source (www.boardsource.org). Pascha Griffiths explained that when she recruited her board she looked for a diverse group of individuals who could meet specific needs of her organization - such as a lawyer, an accountant, and an educator. She was also looking for individuals who were passionate for the mission and have connections in the community to help advance her organization.
The role of the board varies by organizations, but Taft-Pearman claims, "it is a real responsibility and commitment, something that should be taken seriously. You have fiduciary and legal responsibility." Board members for nonprofit organizations have a number of roles, ranging from hiring and firing the executive director to strategic planning to event planning to fundraising. Time commitments also vary, ranging from about two hours per month to two hours per week. Before joining a board, it is important to understand how often the board meets and how much time you will be required to spend on projects outside of board meetings.
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