BOARD ISSUES AND ACCOUNTABILITY
RECRUITING HIGH-POWERED BOARD MEMBERS

According to the ADO membership survey we implemented last summer, members requested information on how to recruit high-powered board members. We all know that having an enthusiastic and active Board of Directors is a major component of a successful development and fundraising program. But how do you find high caliber Board members??? Here are some suggestions given to us by ADO members who attended our last meeting.

Hold an event - Host a cocktail party and invite prospective board members. Invite everyone you and your board can think of. Use it as an opportunity to sell your agency.

Ask donors - Contact your largest donors and ask them if they would be interested in becoming involved with one of your Committees.

Work with your Nomination Committee - Your Board should have a Nomination Committee whose function is to recruit Board Members. Provide them with a list of potential members to go after.

Get staff and board involved in the process - Encourage your President, Executive Director and other Board Members to have one-on-one conversations and meetings with prospective board members.

Cultivate the current Board - Structure your Board meetings, and use the meetings as an opportunity to actually work (i.e. draft thank you notes.

Take up golf or tennis - Become a member of a ritzy golf club, and soon you'll be regularly sitting down after rounds with your new golf mates to discuss the amount of their donation to your Center.

Check out other Boards - People who volunteer often volunteer for several organizations. See who's serving on the Board of an agency you respect and contact them about becoming involved with your Board.

Become a member of other organizations - Become an active member of the County Chamber of Commerce, Westchester County Association and other high-profile County organization. It's a great way to reach corporate people.

Attend prestigious events/fundraisers - Buy a ticket to the County's most high-profile events and mingle, mingle, mingle.

Tap into your constituents - If you have a kid attending your program that has a high-potential parent, speak to his/her mom or dad about becoming a board member.

Ask a Politician - It is always good to have at least one politician on your Board. They associate with the County's most influential residents.

Strive for a large Board - The more the merrier. There seems to be a trend toward larger boards. We are aware of several with memberships of 31, 38 and 45 members! And they seem to work. Board donations are good. You have the manpower for events. And you have enough people to participate on Committees - - where the real work gets done.

Recruiting a successful Board is no small feat, but an important component to a development officer's success. Be sure to join us at our next ADO meeting, where you'll be able to pick up other useful tips on how to attract and cultivate high-powered board members.
Thanks to all ADO members who helped supply the above tips at the January meeting.