Come on Board and Make a Difference- Board Life Matters
“I want to make a difference in the community, but I am not sure how and where I can do it.” This is a comment I heard often from my classmates in business school. Many were looking for ways to get involved with nonprofit organizations that went beyond a trash pick-up day or serving soup at the local shelter. They wanted to find a more engaged way to give back and possibly build some new skills in the process.
As someone who had served on the board of directors of two nonprofits, I immediately suggested board service as the solution. Through board service, you can help nonprofits increase their impact while gaining career-building skills in the process. During my board service, I created a three-year strategic plan, developed an individual donor plan, and managed a board committee for several years. Learning how to motivate volunteers, help an organization define its priorities, and raise resources in a challenging funding environment was rewarding and equipped me with important new leadership skills.
