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What makes an exceptional board member

It takes more than just a commitment to an organization’s mission to become an exceptional board member. You need to be so passionate about the mission that you are eager to use your connections, resources, and professional skills to enrich the organization.

The majority of chief executives say commitment to mission is one of the top criteria they use when selecting board members. In BoardSource’s Nonprofit Governance Index 2007, they listed commitment to mission among their top three criteria 61 percent of the time — more than any other factor. That was followed by the ability to network (40 percent), professional skills (37 percent), and willingness to serve (32 percent). Criteria that many assume are very important, such as being a major donor and knowledge of organization’s industry/field, were in the chief executive’s top three less than 18 percent of the time. The Index surveyed 1,126 chief executives and 1,026 board members.

The results were somewhat similar when board members were asked for their top three considerations in their decision to join a board. Their top pick was “fit of the organization’s mission with personal interests/beliefs” at 80 percent.

But commitment to the mission by itself is not enough to make a board member truly valuable to an organization:

Board members must be so passionate in the mission that they are comfortable taking part in fundraising, and look forward to acting as an ambassador that promotes the organization to friends, colleagues, and other contacts.
They must be eager to use their professional skills to help oversee the organization, but must understand that their role is to focus on strategic issues while the staff handles management issues.
Candidates should not feel pressured into joining the board. If they are not enthusiastic, it is unlikely they will do a good job.

Chief Executive Survey: During the past two years, which three of the following criteria were most important in selecting board members? (Select three.)*
Commitment to the mission	61%
Community stature and connections (ability to network)	40%
Professional skills	37%
Willingness to serve	32%
Connection to the organization (member/client/constituent)	27%
Recommended by a board member	25%
Demographics (age, race/ethnicity, gender, etc.)	22%
Major donor or ability to contribute	17%
Knowledge of organization’s industry/field	16%
Recommended by the chief executive	9%
Other	5%

Board Member Survey: Which three of the following considerations were most important in your decision to join this board? (Select three.)*
Fit of the organization’s mission with your personal interests/beliefs	80%
Your personal connection to the organization	38%
Invitation from a friend or colleague	36%
Need by the organization for your professional skills	36%
Opportunity for personal and/or professional development	28%
Reputation/prestige of the organization	24%
Expertise in the organization’s industry/field	18%
People who serve on the board	12%
Other	5%

* Source Nonprofit Governance Index 2007

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What makes an exceptional board member

Chief Executive Survey:During the past two years, which three of the following criteria were most important in selecting board members? (Select three.)*

Board Member Survey:Which three of the following considerations were most important in your decision to join this board? (Select three.)*

Chief Executive Survey:
During the past two years, which three of the following criteria were most important in selecting board members? (Select three.)*

Board Member Survey:
Which three of the following considerations were most important in your decision to join this board? (Select three.)*