Month: September 2026

Board recruitment is a board responsibility. But that doesn’t mean the Executive Director should be standing outside the process. After all… They’re the person who will have to work with the board you build. This is where nonprofits sometimes swing too far in one direction. The ED has no meaningful input… Or the ED effectively…

I’ve worked with stagnant nonprofits that couldn’t understand why they weren’t keeping up with change—or making the impact they once did. Then I looked at how they recruited their boards. They were trying to build the future with people from the past. When a board seat opened, they didn’t have a list of prospective candidates….

Nonprofit boards spend months searching for people who are passionate about their mission. Meanwhile, some of those people may already be right in front of them. They’re volunteering. They’re donating. And they’re often overlooked when it’s time to recruit the board. Boards tend to look outward: Community leaders. Executives. Well-connected professionals. People with impressive résumés….

In my last post, I talked about the mistake of recruiting celebrities or prominent community leaders simply because of who they are. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t recruit them. They might just be the perfect fit for a different role—and be even more effective. Ambassador. Think about why boards often want a high-profile person…