5 points to consider for your board chair.

Nonprofits come in all shapes and sizes—from small nonprofits with a few people on the board to large international organizations. In short, every nonprofit is different in its own way. These differences mean many different types of nonprofit boards exist. Still, the position of board chair is one of the most essential for any organization.

A nonprofit board represents the bridge between a community and a nonprofit. Aside from the nonprofit leader, the chair is one of the most critical positions. This individual should have the respect and regard of the community. Further, they should command the room but be open-minded, consensus-builders, and influencers.

What a nonprofit board chair does

A nonprofit board chair oversees the strategy of a nonprofit organization. A nonprofit board chair gets appointed by the nonprofit’s board and helps set the agenda for the organization. The nonprofit board chair is also responsible for ensuring that the organization follows the law and all fiduciary responsibilities.

When nominating a new nonprofit board share, nonprofits should consider several factors. For instance, it’s essential to think of the organization’s culture. Some are grass-roots-oriented, while others have a more corporate and business-oriented perspective. That said, some traits to keep in mind no matter what type of nonprofit are the following.

The 5 traits you should look for in a nonprofit board chair

1. The individual needs to be passionate about the cause.

The most important trait to look for in a nonprofit board chair is a passion for the cause. The more passionate the board chair is about the mission, the more likely they will care about how the organization runs. This means they will be more hands-on and motivate and inspire others to do the same.

2. The board chair has to have leadership abilities.

A good nonprofit chair needs to have leadership abilities to create a productive environment for those around them. They need to be visionary and can inspire others. Further, they have to excel at communication. You want someone who can get everyone on board with the organizational vision and goals. People who lack these qualities will find it challenging to lead. Also, they won’t be successful at fundraising or recruiting new members.

3. They know what it takes to run a nonprofit.

Nonprofit boards require someone with knowledge of what it takes to run an organization. Nonprofit operations are complex, so the chair must understand all aspects of running a nonprofit. For instance, nonprofits have different regulatory and compliance issues than for-profit companies. Further, chairs and leadership need to create goodwill with staff, volunteers, and donors. A good place for nonprofit board training is BoardSource.

4. Board chairs must possess strong decision-making skills.

As mentioned, a chair needs leadership skills. But, it’s also vital they have decision-making skills. Unfortunately, many nonprofit leaders suffer from what’s perceived as a lack of decisive decision-making. But strategic decisions must happen as the social good sector competes with for-profits, B-Corps, and social enterprises. Further, with change as an ongoing constant, the complexity of the world today requires a decisive decision-maker.

5. Board engagement and communication skills.

Board engagement and communication skills are two other essential traits for a nonprofit board chair. A good chair will engage with other board members and stakeholders. It’s their job to represent the organization publicly and ensure that the board is transparent about their decisions. It would help if you also looked for someone who is easy with people and has high emotional intelligence.

All around expertise for the board chair

A nonprofit chair has a lot of responsibility. One of the most critical responsibilities is overseeing the organization’s finances. Therefore, when searching for a nonprofit board chair, the person has to have an adequate understanding of financial management and experience in overseeing budgets.

A nonprofit board chair gets involved in many aspects of the organization. So, they should be someone with experience in finances, handling crises, and making tough decisions. They should appreciate legal issues, operations, and understand management. In sum, the board chair is responsible for guiding the board to make strategic decisions. A pro tip is to find someone who is a c-suite executive or successful entrepreneur. These individuals usually have the breadth of experience required for leadership.

 

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