by Charles Simmins

Created on: July 13, 2009   Last Updated: April 24, 2010

The Board of Directors of a nonprofit group can be critical to the success of the group. These individuals come to the Board with a wealth of experience, training and education, as well as an interest in the mission of the nonprofit. How can management get the Board members to be hands-on?

Every not for profit staffs its Board of Directors differently. Some seek to place important contributors on the board. Others look for experience in the field the organizations works in. A few choose directors that will just leave management alone.

Involving a Board member with the organization begins with the process of selecting someone for the director's position. The criteria for selection should involve a clear description of the duties of a member of the Board of Directors, the tasks performed and the time involved. As potential candidates are identified, the benefits they might bring to the group should also be identified.

The non-profit's expectations for its Board members should be discussed with the candidate and their value to the group emphasized. Potential directors are often very busy people and selling them on working with this not for profit is important. Show candidates how they will make a difference. Ask for their help. Say "please".

Once on the Board, ensure that the non-profit's managers interact with the directors often. Assign a manager to each director, matching the expectations for the director to the manager of the work involved. Each director should be asked to report to the entire Board on the activity of the areas that they are involved in. A hand-on role in a nonprofit gives some degree of ownership to the directors for their work with the group.

Management should also devote effort to working with the directors. A hands-on director is an asset to the group when his efforts contribute to success. That relationship requires that both management and the director share the same goals and work together on the same strategies. Communication, from all parties to all parties, is critical.

The Board of Directors of a nonprofit hire managers to operate the group day to day. A Board that is hands-on can assist management without replacing them. Recognition of that valuable support allows the directors to see that they are making a difference and encourages them in future endeavors. Having a Board that is involved is not a one-time event, but should be a lifetime plan for the organization. Don't forget to say "thank you" to every Board member, as often as possible.

The Board of Directors can play a hands-on role in a nonprofit from the very beginning. When an individual is asked to be a director, he is told how he will add value to the cause. During his tenure on the Board, he will be active in areas he was recruited for, and work directly with managers. He will report to the Board on their efforts and have a degree of ownership for his areas of responsibility. Lastly, he will be acknowledged for his aid and thanked for his assistance.

That is how you get the Board of Directors to play a hands-on role in your nonprofit.

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