The Number One Requirement for Board Members?

Let the little voice in your head that says “a fat checkbook” stay right there. A new article from Board Source says "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 catch is that this commitment has to be so strong that it "...makes members eager to tap into their connections, resources, and skills for your cause." Experienced board members and nonprofit executives alike recognize the vast distance between good and poor directors comes between those who talk the talk and those who walk the walk.

Susan Herr