Many nonprofit boards are so busy that they refuse to do a professional job of recruiting new members. This critical task is not as difficult as you may think if you assign the task to your Board Development Committee, focus on the skills you need to complete your board, and start your search early.

Here are eleven creative ways to find new board members for your organization:

1. Post your board openings on volunteer websites.

2. Post your directory openings on your organization’s website.

3. Talk to former board members and ask them to suggest candidates.

4. Put an ad in the newspaper or in your newsletter.

5. Create an ongoing pool of board candidates from your volunteers and committee members who are not already on your board. These two groups can become your feeder team for new board members.

6. Post a sign in your lobby and provide the contact information for the Board Development Chair.

7. Email your members the qualifications you’re looking for.

8. Contact the Human Resources Department of your local law and accountancy offices and ask if any of their partners or employees have a particular interest in their clients or the programs they offer.

9. Contact a college or university department that is related to your organization’s mission. Ask the department manager to email your request for new board members to department members or post it in department offices.

10. Create a system to follow up on each promising prospect.

11. Ask your top donors to come over for coffee or lunch to brainstorm with you and create a list of potential board members who meet this year’s search criteria.

Remember, not everyone is interested in being in a meeting. If your search finds people who could become enthusiastic supporters of your organization but don’t want to join a board, maybe they could join a board committee, be on an advisory board, or work at one of your events.

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