Starting a Nonprofit: Recruit a Board of Directors (Step by Step)

Starting a nonprofit organization? HOW do you recruit a nonprofit board of directors? Here are the practical steps. #Nonprofit #StartUp #Nonprofits
I work full time for the 501c3 nonprofit I started many years ago and recruiting great nonprofit board members was a key part of making the organization a success. But how to recruit board members? From setting board expectations to determining board of directors roles and keeping up board engagement after recruitment, this video outlines 10 practical steps to develop an amazing nonprofit board from scratch for your startup nonprofit!
If you are starting a 501c3 charitable organization, thinking about it, or know someone who is trying to start a nonprofit, I hope this helps!
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// MORE ABOUT ME
Hi! I’m Amber, a nonprofit founder, Executive Director, and public speaker on social impact, changemaking, nonprofits, leadership, and more. Want me to come speak at your business, college, school, or event? Reach out: ambermsmith.com/
My Nonprofit Founder to Full-Time Academy -- with online trainings to guide you through the steps to start a nonprofit (in the USA) and more -- is now LIVE! foundertofulltime.com/
On Facebook? Talk to me and other change makers about social change, nonprofits, social enterprise, leadership and more in my Facebook group, Change the World or Bust: / changetheworldorbust
Join my newsletter! ambermsmith.com/blog/newsletter/
I'm also on Twitter: / ambermelsmith
Pics of me and my cute dog on Instagram: / ambermelsmith

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

My Nonprofit Founder to Full-Time Academy -- with online trainings to guide you through the steps to start a nonprofit (in the USA) and more -- is now LIVE! foundertofulltime.com/

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Are you in the process of recruiting a board? How's it going? Challenges? 2:13 Part 1 - Setting Board Expectations 10:26 Part 2 - Recruiting Board Members 17:00 Part 3 - Onboarding Board Members

[@doctor4ghugus]

I am starting a section - 8 non profit company in India and I find your video very useful. It gave me a lot of clarity and now I have a checklist to move ahead. The goal of my non profit is to grow 1 lakh urban jungles in 5 years. I want to invite you to speak about your journey on our online talk show someday.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Yay, so glad the video was helpful!

[@triciastubbs5265]

I am just getting started in founding my non-profit. I know what to do, I know what type of non-profit and now I am looking at the first step of getting a board together and filing for the 501c3.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Congrats on getting started!

[@jacobmwesigye5726]

Am actually in the process of recruiting the board of directors for the organization I started for the youth and children in this pandemic.This video is very useful and has given me exactly what I wanted to do in order to get the right members on board.Thank you Amber for this great work.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

You're welcome!

[@Lisathebusinessqueen]

We are starting a non profit Foster Care agency for children. We are recruiting for board members, and this video has so much great information.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

So happy to hear it!! :)

[@KharismaBrown]

Your video has really helped me to get started with the recruitment process. I was so confused on how I could get people on my board, because my current friends, volunteers, etc., were not showing an interest or they just didn't have the capability to serve on the board. Waiting on them has really held up the process. Now I can start recruiting. Thank you.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

That's so amazing to hear! Keep us up to date on how it goes!

[@krystynamedina]

Im in the process of switching from an LLC to a nonprofit and am trying to figure out what exactly to do first. This helped alot !

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Glad it helped!

[@kayleeblair4903]

In the process of starting one up right now. Super helpful. Thank you!!

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tibbysunshineperez-starks5012]

Thank you for this information!!!

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

You are so welcome!

[@keeli810]

This was very helpful! Thank you so much.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Freedoms_Wings_AZ]

I am just starting a nonprofit, after almost a year of promoting and building a consensus around the need. It is a narrowly focused group to promote getting people with disabilities out of their wheelchairs and into the cockpit of a glider/sailplane for either a therapeutic recreational ride or full flight training to become a licensed glider pilot here in Arizona. We are modeling our nonprofit after one in New Jersey which has being the same thing for nearly 40 years. We will be using modified sailplanes which include hand controls instead of foot pedals for the rudder controls for people who may not have much or any use of their legs. I have enjoyed and learned a lot from this video and several others. One quick question... In AZ it only takes one person to incorporate a nonprofit, so would it be best to be a sole founder and add board members later, or enlist my board members first before incorporation with the state? Any thoughts would help... Ernie Hilborn www.FreedomsWingsAZ.org

[@byLizee]

thank you

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Welcome!

[@theafghanlove1140]

Thank you sooo much for helpfll information you are really amazing. Im just busy and hiring board members, and the challenges i facing is how to lead them and keep them ?i really need to help me

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Good questions! Keeping board members around and engaged is a big challenge in the nonprofit world, but setting the expectations before you even recruit them (See Part 1) can help prevent people from leaving later because a reason board members leave is they did not realize all that would be expected of them.

[@scotwahlquist9265]

When you're starting a new Nonprofit and recruiting a board, are you still having them apply? I would think that you're more selling why they would want to be on your board than having an abundance of people applying to be on the board.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Great question! And the answer is... maybe, but not necessarily. You still have to set standards and expectations - you don't want people who aren't a good fit and who aren't going to help really do the work joining because you're too eager to get people on!

[@simimi4851]

Thank you. I am starting a large initiative and in need of a board of advisors and team.. wanted to know when the business is young how do you offer the potential board any equity or shares so early? I don't know how I would even divide up equity to offer board advisors? Doesn't that have to be created first when the business is established?

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

If it's a nonprofit then there aren't shares or equity. It is different from a business. Board members are typically unpaid community volunteers.

[@ConsciousFeminineMedicine]

Wondering are we just expecting people to come on our board because they are aligned with the cause?! In other words, can you clarify what benefits we could point out to candidates, to being on a board….?!

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Yes, it's a volunteer position where people give their time because they care about the cause. Board members make great connections, participate in fulfilling service, and it's great for someone's reputation, too. :)

[@seasonedpunk6002]

There's no step 3 ??!!!? Otherwise, good video as always. Big help.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Woops, did I skip a number or something?

[@melroseking5773]

Thanks so much for your shared informaion which I just came across. I recently registered a nonprofit in my state. I'm about applying for a 501(c)3, and my challenge is recruiting board members with the exception of family and friends. IRS requires five and have three including me. I recently filled out information with nonprofit organization, made phone calls, emails, etc and waiting. Is there anyway you can help, please? Thanks so much.

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Hey there, the video outlines some steps to reach out and find some board members, if that helps! Make sure you have a written "job description" to give to people who might consider it.

[@gymnastgirl815]

I’m staring a non profit to help veterans heal from PTSD by taking them on international volunteer trips

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Wonderful!

[@AA-vf8fs]

What about money? Do you pay Board of Directors ? Or they're volunteers?

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Hey there! Board members are typically unpaid volunteers.

[@HelloooThere]

Do you mean the bylaws should be written before recruiting initial board members?

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

You can draft them before you have a Board, BUT the Board will have to review and vote to accept the Bylaws, so one way is to write them alongside your Board members as a team.

[@ljean4439]

Hi Amber! I'm just starting out with my non-profit and I'm looking for board directors to be my founding board so we can file for 501c3 status. I know what I'm looking for in what I want for each role, but each time I find the perfect candidate and reach out I get no response and I'm running out of good candidates in my area to be a part of my nonprofit. Any tips? Thanks!

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

Hmm, I would ask, how are you engaging them? In person conversations and some relationship building may be ideal!

[@ljean4439]

Hello! How would you suggest I start making conversation with potential candidates if I have no experience (since im a teen) and no current work I have done towards my nonprofit (i'm planning on getting legal paperwork done before I start with my nonprofit mission and programs)?@@AmberMelanieSmith

[@reneedouyon6980]

Where can I get Board of Directors?

[@AmberMelanieSmith]

I talk about where to recruit some people towards the second part of the video if that helps!