Month: August 2026

Some nonprofit boards recruit impressive people. Great titles. Strong résumés. Recognized names. On paper, it looks like a win. But boards don’t operate on paper. They operate in rooms. And what matters in that room isn’t just what someone has accomplished. It’s how they show up. Because a highly accomplished person can still be: •…

I worked with a nonprofit board when one member made an exciting suggestion. They had grown up with someone who later became a national celebrity. And they were still in touch. “Why don’t we recruit them to the board?” There was just one problem. The celebrity wasn’t known for supporting the organization’s cause—or even being…

Most nonprofit boards say they want strong board members. But too often, they recruit for something else: Ease. Easy to recruit. Easy to get along with. Easy to agree with. They look for people who are: • Agreeable • Supportive • “Easy to work with” • Unlikely to create tension It feels like a good…

One of the most common ways nonprofit boards recruit new members? They start with people they already know. Friends. Colleagues. Business associates. Neighbors. Especially in startups and smaller nonprofits, this feels natural. Existing relationships make recruiting easier. But here’s the problem… Too often, people are invited because they’re known, not because they’re the best fit…