Time-Compressed Nonprofit Directors - Recruit and Retain Them!

Every nonprofit board has had the experience of having board positions open and being unable to fill them with highly qualified people. The usual response from qualified candidates is that they are too busy to be accept a board position. However, the real reasons, never voiced if speaking privately, are that they perceive the nonprofit decision process to be too slow, board agendas loaded with minutiae, presentations that take up more time than they should, unfocused discussion, etc.

Following is a list of selling points to potential board candidates, providing a board can deliver on them!

• We are careful to make wise use of your valuable time.
• Board meetings will begin and end of time, a quorum will be present at the beginning of the meeting.
• Board meeting binders will be sent a week ahead of time.
• The agenda also will be sent out a week ahead of time.
• If one misses a meeting, the minutes will be available within a week afterwards.
• If one is going to be traveling, we have the facility for directors to attend by conference call.
• Divisional staff reports will each have a time limit and be well prepared in advance, so the agenda can be completed as scheduled. The CEO works with each presenter ahead of time.
• The board chair has the responsibility to quickly refocus discussions if they get off track.
• Power-point presentations will be limited to 10 power point cells
• Policy and strategic topics will be the major focuses of the meetings, not operating minutiae. We view our responsibility to overview, not micromanage.
• Board committee work will be aligned with the candidate's interests and backgrounds. Committee chairs will understand directors' time constraints.
• The board chair and/or CEO will meet with each board members several times a year to make sure the director perceives the board experiences are in line with the above guidelines.