Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals and business partners have inquired about ways to safely engage in the community. The words innovation and flexibility have served as mantras for the nonprofit sector as volunteer activities have shifted to virtual gatherings and fundraisers have transformed into online events. However, no matter the state of the world, there is one way to engage with a nonprofit that, is always timely, impactful, and productive: nonprofit board service.
Board service is the perfect opportunity to make a significant contribution to a nonprofit, develop leadership skills, and build new networks.
Board Leadership Program
Our Board Leadership Program trains and matches diverse business professionals to positions on nonprofit boards and committees. For professionals seeking to become involved in community leadership, our Board Leadership program prepares and connects candidates for board positions, according to the needs expressed by nonprofit organizations, and the interests and skills of individual candidates.
FACTS: In 2019, Business Volunteers fulfilled 56 nonprofit board placements with 143 candidates either matched or in progress.
Board Matching during a global health crisis
Like many of our programs, all board matching at Business Volunteers has moved to virtual. This includes both our one-on-one concierge service through the Board Leadership Program and our famous boardCONNECT, a “round robin” coordinated event where professionals and nonprofits engage in brief conversations. Regardless of the format used to make connections, BVM is pleasantly surprised that within the past few weeks we’ve seen a great increase of interest in the board leadership program.
FACTS: This year, Business Volunteers has fulfilled eight board placements at Casey Cares Foundation, Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, TasteWise Kids, The Peale Center for Baltimore History and Architecture and more. We anticipate more successful matches in the coming weeks as a by-product of our virtual boardCONNECT.
As part of our board leadership work, Business Volunteers is launching a NEW, in-depth board training- businessONBOARD: Fundementals. This training provides an engaging, comprehensive, real life look at board service for professionals. Co-branded and with thought partnership and funding support from the T. Rowe Price Foundation, this training represents a significant shift in programming and an exciting new phase of work for Business Volunteers. Learn more about businessONBOARD and register for the training here.
Creating a diverse board
The National Council of Nonprofits, shares that having a board with diverse perspectives is critically important. Each person brings their own expertise and experience – both personally and professionally – that positions a nonprofit to plan, manage risk, make decisions, and take full advantage of opportunities in a stronger, more strategic way.
Boards that are not diverse risk becoming stagnant, especially when it comes to recruitment. Nonprofits often share that recruitment of candidates can be the biggest challenge when managing their board.
Business Volunteers works to help nonprofits build qualified and diverse boards through our partnership with businesses across the Region. By utilizing our Board Leadership Program and boardCONNECT, nonprofits run less of a risk of having board members travel in the same social circle, making identifying and cultivating future board members easier, resulting in a stronger circle of influence for the nonprofit.
