Keeping the Faith: Why We Serve on Nonprofit Boards

I have been writing this month about board service, focusing on the authority, responsibility, and rules that govern this volunteer work. Reflecting on the responsibilities and authority of nonprofit boards, I must ask: why would anyone volunteer for such a demanding role? Because the rewards of board service exceed the duties and responsibilities.

In my 18 years of working for association management companies, I had the opportunity to work with multiple boards of directors. I would work with anywhere from 4 to 8 organizations at the same time. In my career, I was also directly employed by two associations as their executive director. These experiences gave me both breadth and depth in understanding board dynamics. I learned that regardless of the nonprofit, board members are motivated to serve by just a few considerations.

Why People Serve

The first and most frequent motivation is a passion for the work of the organization. Whether serving as a board member of a local PTA, a community yacht club, or a homeowner’s association, most board members love the organization’s purpose and mission. They want the work to continue and know that board service is a great help to nonprofits.

Many board members also want to “give back.” They may have received some benefit from the organization and are glad to lend a hand, to contribute. We talk about people’s needs, but the need to contribute is often overlooked. Each of us has a fundamental human need to contribute to the world around us. Board service can fill this need.

I have served on a few boards of directors, and one of my reasons was to learn. Nonprofit volunteering and board service are relatively safe places to build leadership skills. It also helps develop social skills. Through my nonprofit work, I have learned so much from people whose lives are very different from mine. Working together and serving the organization’s purpose provides a common ground and an opportunity to grow.

Another reason people join a board of directors, and one of my favorites, is because they are unhappy with the way things are going. They want the organization to change and know that the best way to create change is to be part of it. I love this reason because boards need diverse opinions and perspectives to be effective.

The Value of Structure

Given all the great reasons why people join a board of directors, why do they have to put up with all the rules? There are two primary reasons. The first is to protect the individual. When a board of directors acts as a group with good intentions then they are generally protected by the laws, regulations, and insurance. The second reason supports the first. A well-run meeting held according to commonly understood (parliamentary) procedures ensures that all voices are heard, and decisions are made with the best intentions of the organization and its purpose at heart.

The Role of Faith

Given all the great reasons people join a board of directors, why do they also embrace all the rules and structure? Because those structures protect individuals and promote fairness. A well-run board meeting, guided by shared procedures and purpose, ensures that diverse voices are heard and that decisions are made in good faith.

With these pieces in place, a board—and the community it serves—can have faith in the organization’s direction and integrity. I’d love to hear from you: have you served on a board for a reason I haven’t mentioned? Drop me a note—I’d enjoy hearing your story.