Finding the right people to serve on a board is the key to a successful board. Some qualities of a productive board member are:
Brings diversity. A Board should have members with unique talents, skills, interests, experiences and social backgrounds. They need to represent different constituencies so that your Board can see through a lens what otherwise might be missed.
Passionate. Because nonprofits don’t compensate people for their time, find people who truly care about the organization’s mission, vision and values.
Supportive. People who are civil and agreeable can help meetings and committees run smoothly. However, you also want people who are open to new ideas and opinions and will contribute new ideas to make the organization even better.
Attentive. Board service can feel routine. Make sure your prospective board members are attentive and alert. People who stay on top of problems and tackle them head on help to ensure the quality of your organization. Members are not on the Board to simply rubber stamp ideas and suggestions.
Collaborative. Sometimes issues arise that lead to disagreements. Seek potential board members who can deal
with difficult situations and bring resolution. Even when board members disagree, you want people who are willing to accept challenges and collaborate with their fellow members to find the very best solution with the organization being their primary concern.