Getting nonprofit boards on board: Diversity, governance, and fundraising

At Candid, we get a lot of questions about nonprofit boards—from how to recruit members, to what their obligations are, to how executives can best work with them to advance their organizations’ missions and growth. Here’s a curated collection of articles and resources covering a wide range of topics on nonprofit boards.  

As a starting point, check out: Strong boards make strong nonprofits: What you need to know. Candid education programming manager Lori Guidry answers some of the most commonly asked questions about nonprofit boards, including members’ responsibilities and what to do when they’re not being met. 

The lack of board diversity and its implications

What do we know about the composition of nonprofit boards, and what are the implications? These articles explore the challenges and opportunities nonprofit boards can present for advancing racial equity—both within organizations and in the communities they serve.  

Why do smaller nonprofit organizations tend to have more diverse boards? According to Candid’s The state of diversity in the U.S. nonprofit sector report, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) individuals and women are underrepresented among board members compared with the overall nonprofit workforce. Smaller organizations have smaller but more racially and gender-diverse boards, but as the number of board members increases with organization size, the number of BIPOC and women members does not—possibly due to tokenism.  

Black women and gender-expansive nonprofit leaders: Combating the absence of trust. How could the underrepresentation of BIPOC and women on nonprofit boards affect organizations’ leadership, work, and fundraising? This article explores the Washington Area Women’s Foundation’s (WAWF) finding that Black women and gender-expansive leaders report being challenged and undermined by board members—and, as a result, working with insufficient funding and support while feeling undervalued. “Boards have to do a better job of saying ‘Yes!’ when leaders ask for help that requires resources,” says WAWF president and CEO Dr. Tamara Wilds Lawson.

Strategies for increasing diversity on nonprofit boards

So, how can nonprofits ensure their boards are diverse and inclusive? Recruiting board members of color—in a meaningful, respectful way, not tokenizing—can be tricky. Here are some recommendations: 

Discomfort is the new black: Six ways nonprofit leaders can support their boards to become more inclusive and diverse. The Board Pro’s Christal Cherry offers advice for nonprofit leaders: Take control proactively, look inward and invite staff and the board to commit to self-reflection, seek help from DEI consultants, value progress over perfection on the long and bumpy journey toward racial equity, and know that “change will only happen when everyone is ready to speak up, step up, or even buck up.”  

Recruiting for board diversity—without disrespecting people of color. Jim Taylor, Board Source’s vice president of leadership initiatives and education, recounts being recruited apparently only because he was Black, not because of his experience and expertise. He outlines questions nonprofit boards should ask to successfully recruit and retain members of color: how board diversity will affect the organization’s work, whether they’re expanding their network of potential board candidates, and whether they’re building an inclusive and welcoming board culture. 

Building an inclusive, innovative, and impactful board. This Candid webinar led by Diverse Force CEO Sulaiman W. Rahman explores how encouraging diverse backgrounds and perspectives among board members can help organizations attract a varied donor community and enhance impact. It also highlights how good practices in governance and fiduciary duties can foster more collaboration, accountability, and effective decision making. 

Strategies for strengthening nonprofit board governance

A nonprofit governing board has a legal obligation to oversee management of the organization. The articles below explore how nonprofit boards can be most effective in this role: 

Embracing partnership: A promising paradigm for nonprofit governance. Nonprofit boards need to evolve from the conventional hierarchical approach toward a more collaborative and inclusive model—one grounded in partnership, suggests Candid board vice chair Donna Murray-Brown, vice president of strategy and development at the National Council of Nonprofits. The essential elements of a partnership governance model include respect, mission and vision alignment, a nurturing culture, and ongoing evaluation. 

New Years resolutions for board members. Do you find yourself making the same New Year resolution year after year? Some resolutions may be worth repeating, like those suggested in this 2020 article—such as having “a bias toward action”; supporting fundraising beyond gifts, e.g., “by opening doors”; challenging the status quo; and being “optimistic, no matter what!” 

Strategies for involving nonprofit board members in fundraising

The resources below explore ways to ensure board members fulfill their obligations to help with fundraising: 

How to find your first prospective donors: Tips for new nonprofits. If your organization is just getting off the ground, the board is likely your go-to source of initial funding. Not only do board members have a fiduciary responsibility to the nonprofit, they joined the board because they’re passionate about its mission. An annual personal contribution is expected as a demonstration of their commitment, and the article suggests nonprofits make this clear when onboarding new members and ask board chairs to get the message out. 

Overcome these board excuses for not fundraising. Board members need to shift their thinking about fundraising: Asking for money is not asking for a favor, it is not rude, and there is no quid pro quo. This article offers various scenarios for addressing common excuses and explaining the need to “ask for money because people in need are counting on us to be leaders and to push through the discomfort.” 

How nonprofit boards can support a sustainable funding strategy. Bridgespan Group researchers outline how board members can support leadership in evaluating and refining their strategy, get involved in the planning process, or engage stakeholders. For example, a strategy focused on high-dollar individual gifts may require making introductions among their personal or professional circles, while one focused on government funding means securing strong contract, compliance, and reporting capabilities. 

Ready to learn more? Check out Candid’s upcoming webinars, including Get your board fundraising and How to build the board you need.