Planning for Your First Year of Board Service

This piece is Part 3 of 4 in our New Board Member Planning and Preparation Series.

With your first nonprofit organization Board meeting completed there is a tendency to relax, as the natural concerns and hesitancies that come with taking on a new role with new experiences start to dissipate. Avoid taking your foot off the gas. Now is the time to turn your thoughts to the year ahead and how you can make the most of your first year of Board service.

In Part 1 of this series we discussed what to do in the period between your new Board appointment and before starting your term of service. In Part 2 we outlined key steps to prepare for your first Board meeting. The completion of these early stages marks the beginning of your first year of Board service. Thoughtful front-end planning for your first year of Board service will set the stage for how impactful your time as a Board member can be.

When I join the Board of an organization, my personal goal is to be recognized as a Board member who made a difference and was actively engaged and not as a Board member who just showed up at meetings. To make this happen I incorporate three steps into my first year Board service plan.

Step 1 – Make a list of what you learned from your first Board meeting. Keep the list short and to the point. In the first column list what you believe are the top priorities the organization plans to address in the coming year. Organize the list into two or three broad categories such as new programs, declining funding, financial health and sustainability, mission strategic initiatives, or growth and capacity pressures, to name a few examples. Add a second column to note which of these priorities align with your interests and capacity to be actively engaged. Include a third column listing names of Board members and senior management who are connected to these priority areas. This will help with important contacts needed in Steps 2 and 3.

Step 2 – Select one additional governance activity in which to be actively engaged during your first year of Board service. Typical governance activities include serving on a committee or special task force, joining a working group, or taking on an assignment to help a Board officer with a special task. Limiting your commitment to one of these activities allows you to focus your time and efforts more effectively. Multiple committee assignments might look good but could be very time consuming and strain your ability to fully engage.

Step 3 – Commit to being highly visible and present during your first year of Board service. Plan to attend as many organization functions, fundraising events, and other gatherings as possible. Be visible by interacting with participants but also be fully present by observing first-hand the interest, energy, and culture on display during these functions.

Planning Tip – During your first year of Board service, establish a connection with a veteran Board member with interests and skills similar to yours. Discuss how you could work alongside this Board member and learn from their experiences and knowledge. When possible, look for a Board member who will be retiring at the end of the current Board term. This will provide you an opportunity to take over and continue tasks that might have been ongoing for many years. You will inherit efforts that have traction and benefit from the goodwill already established, while simultaneously helping to ensure these projects will carry on and are left in good hands.

View your first year of Board service as a launching pad. Your effectiveness as a new Board member is directly related to how early in the process you actively engage and participate. Too often I have observed disappointment from retiring Board members who did not become active until near the end of their Board service term. They all regretted the opportunities lost to do good for the organization and themselves.