Commentary: Getting involved in the nonprofit community is good for

A great way for young professionals to get involved in the nonprofit community and support an organization whose cause they believe in is to join a board.

So, all you need to do is flip through the Nonprofit Directory, point to a page and sign up for that board, right? Probably not.

You should make sure that your background and skills will be a good fit for the board and the organization's mission. If you hate animals, you aren't going to want to join the board for PETA, and they aren't going to want you there either. Make sure that the experience will be good for both you and the organization.

When choosing a board, you should find out what the organization's mission statement is. The statement should clearly explain what the organization does, who it serves and how it plans to serve those people.

If you read the mission statement you should be able to tell if the organization's cause is one that you want to support or one with which you don't really want to be involved. If you don't support the mission, you should keep looking for a board that will be a better fit for you.

Once you have chosen an organization, you need to do even more research and ask several questions so that you understand what is involved with being on the board and what kind of commitment you will need to make.

You should find out what type of role the board plays. Are members primarily focused on fundraising and promoting their programs or on strategic planning and evaluation? Based on your skills and background, select the board that would be the best fit for you and which one you would be able to help the most.

The board's meeting schedule also is going to be very important. If the board you are looking at is asking for a commitment that you won't be able to fulfill - keep looking so you don't waste the organization's time.

The staff should be able to tell you know when the board meets or at least how many times each year. Make sure you can attend most of the meetings.

If the board meets monthly, you should be there for at least 10 of those meetings if you want to commit to that organization. Not only should you make sure you can commit, but you also should be sure that the other board members do the same. Ask about the attendance record of the other board members so you know that you won't be wasting your time.

The financial condition of the organization might also interest you. You might see deficits and financial problems as a challenge, while others might not want to be involved with that organization. A board facing deficits is probably going to be more focused on strategic planning and evaluation. You can ask to see the organization's most recent statements and/or its budget to determine what financial struggles it is facing, if any.

The organization also should be able to provide you with its plan for the program and some of the fundraising that is planned for at least the next year.

In addition to all the questions that you have for the board, you should ask what is expected of you. Members are considering you because they believe you have experience and skills that will help them execute the organization's mission. If they tell you what their expectations are and they are too high, you should be honest and let them know. That way they can decide if you will still be a good fit for the board or if your skills and time commitment won't be enough.

If you are interested in joining a board, then join the Rising Professionals for Speed Boarding and Networking on April 18. You will be able to meet with people from Pikes Peak United Way, Leadership Pikes Peak, Red Cross, Care and Share, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, The Global Children's Fund, Festival of Lights, Habitat for Humanity, Downtown Partnership, Dress for Success, Pikes Peak YMCA and Goodwill to get a chance to learn more about their organizations.

Speed boarding is a lot like speed dating, where you get to sit down with a member of each organization for a few minutes to learn more about it before moving on to the next person.

The speed boarding event is from 5 to 6 p.m. at SoDo (space is limited and the speed boarding portion is only open to Rising Professional members). From 6 to 8 p.m. there will be open networking for members and non-members. Call 575-4384 to RSVP.

Another way to find board openings is by visiting The Center for Nonprofit Excellence's Web site, www.cnecoloradosprings.org. The center also offers workshops that will help you prepare for your role on a board.

Copyright 2007 Dolan Media Newswires
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.