4 Ways Being a Nonprofit Board Member Can Help Your Career

For those of you who are currently a nonprofit board member, or recently served on a board, what skills did you gain and how did that impact your work? For those who have not yet sat on a board, what would you like to get out of this service? Let us know in the comments!

For many people, the thought of a board member conjures up scenes of wealthy people writing checks and hosting fundraisers. While supporting the financial wellbeing of an organization is certainly part of a nonprofit board member’s responsibilities, there is a range of tasks that these roles can assist with, as well as plenty of opportunities to volunteer your specific experience and skillset to support an organization you love.

In addition to the personal fulfillment you may feel volunteering your time as a nonprofit board member, there’s tons of professional development to be had, as well! We go through four of the most common ways that being a nonprofit board member can advance your career.

Expand your network 

A big responsibility of being on a board is raising awareness and funds for the organization. As a result, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with supporters from a variety of places.

For example, you’ll come into direct contact with decision-makers at well-known foundations. You may be putting together LOIs or cold-contacting folks to discuss funding, but you’ll also be sharing why this particular organization matters to you. Show these leaders and funders your passion and work ethic, and perhaps they’ll become an important contact in your professional life.

Raise your profile

As a nonprofit board member, you’ll have ample things to talk about with co-workers, managers, and prospective employers. In addition to growing leadership skills and a useful network, these opportunities showcase a dedication to the social-impact sector, which will definitely impress current or future colleagues.

Strengthen project and team management skills 

If you join a board, chances are you’ll join a committee (or a few) which means you’ll have to quickly learn how to manage projects and teams to help the organization move forward. If you’ve never managed projects or people before, this will be a great crash course in learning how to manage effectively.

As you collaborate with others, keep notes of what you’re learning along the way. Are there particular work styles you’re paying attention to? How did a certain funding campaign go—what could be improved for next time? The answers to these questions can inform your next performance review, salary adjustment, or job interview.

Become a better coach

While being a nonprofit board member will certainly help you grow your network, the real impact and change come when you do the hands-on work of helping others reach important goals.

Whether you’re leading a session on fundraising to support colleagues who are new to development or brainstorming an effective comms strategy with an organization’s staff member, you have valuable resources, insight, and experience to share. Talking about these unique qualities will be the reason you land the position, after all.

So, are you ready to start applying for available nonprofit board member positions? There are opportunities being listed on Idealist every day—I hope you find the right volunteer role for you!