Serving as a nonprofit board member is one of the most meaningful ways to make a difference in your community — but it’s also a serious commitment of time, energy and heart.
Board members are responsible for guiding a nonprofit’s strategy, ensuring its financial health and supporting leadership, all while acting as passionate ambassadors for the mission. This level of responsibility comes with a real investment of time and intention.
On average, nonprofit board members spend between 5 and 10 hours a month on board work, including board meetings, committee work, events and preparation. Yet many boards struggle to fully engage. In fact, only 49% of nonprofit CEOs say their board members understand their organization’s programs well. That’s why it’s so important to not only find the right organization — but to show up as a prepared, curious and committed board member.
This guide — based on my own experience as a board member — is designed to help potential board members understand what board service really looks like and determine whether it’s the right next step to join a specific board or not.
But first, it’s important not to confuse becoming a nonprofit board member with becoming a volunteer. While both board members and volunteers contribute time and energy to a nonprofit, their roles and responsibilities are distinct. Volunteers typically support the day-to-day work of the organization — helping with events, programs or administrative tasks.
Board members, on the other hand, provide strategic oversight, ensure financial and legal accountability and help set the organization’s direction. They also have fiduciary duties and are expected to contribute at a leadership level, including fundraising, governance and representing the organization in the community.
The line between a volunteer and nonprofit board member can be blurred in the early stage or smaller nonprofits, where there are “working boards.” These boards take a more hands-on role in the organization’s day-to-day operations, but it remains critical that as an organization grows boundaries between staff and board become clearer. If they don’t, it can lead to confusion about who is responsible for what and who reports to who.
Both volunteers and board members are vital, but board service carries a higher level of responsibility and influence.
What does a nonprofit board member do?
Board structures and cultures vary, but every nonprofit board shares a set of foundational responsibilities. Board members are stewards of the mission and play key roles in both oversight and advocacy. Core board responsibilities fall into five areas:
Supporting the mission
- Providing strategic guidance and supporting the nonprofit’s strategic plan
- Evaluating and strengthening programs and services
Planning and resourcing
- Ensuring effective organizational and financial planning
- Securing adequate financial resources for the organization
- Protecting assets and ensuring strong financial oversight
Supporting the CEO & and setting policies
- Hiring, supporting and evaluating the chief executive
- Developing personnel policies
Governence
- Upholding legal and ethical integrity
- Assessing board performance
- Recruiting and onboarding new board members
Outreach
- Enhancing the organization’s public standing
While in most cases you will serve as a board member for a handful of years, your most important role is to advocate for the mission and create the systems, processes and networks of support that can sustain the organization long after your board service is over.
Here, I think it’s also important to clarify what board members do not do! Such as:
- Hold paid positions within the organization
(Doing so can create legal and ethical conflicts of interest.) - Manage or direct staff
(The CEO or executive director is responsible for supervising staff. Board members should never direct staff without permission of the CEO.) - Make unilateral decisions on behalf of the organization
(Decisions should be made collectively as a board, not by individual members.) - Get involved in day-to-day operations
(Unless it’s a working board, most boards are governance-focused, not operations-focused.) - Fundraise alone
(Board members should contribute and help with fundraising, but they don’t bear sole responsibility, it’s a shared effort with staff.) - Represent the organization publicly without coordination
(Board members should only speak publicly on behalf of a nonprofit when authorized, and they should be aligned on messaging.) - Change the mission or direction without process
(Major shifts in strategy or mission must follow proper strategic planning and board approval processes.)
What are my legal responsibilities as a nonprofit board member?
Nonprofit board members carry legal and ethical responsibilities known as fiduciary duties. The three duties include:
- Duty of Care
- Duty of Loyalty
- Duty of Obedience
What do these duties really mean?
Duty of Care
This means showing up, paying attention and doing your homework. A nonprofit board member who upholds the Duty of Care:
- Reads board packets and financial reports before meetings
- Asks thoughtful questions and participates in discussions
- Attends meetings consistently and makes time for committee work
- Stays informed about the organization’s programs, challenges and opportunities
Duty of Care in Action: Before approving the annual budget (which is one of your most important responsibilities as a board member), you read the full financial packet, ask clarifying questions about projected revenue and ensure the budget aligns with the strategic plan.
Duty of Loyalty
This is about putting the organization first. A board member who honors the Duty of Loyalty:
- Discloses any potential conflicts of interest (such as a business relationship with a vendor)
- Abstains from votes when a conflict is present
- Keeps board discussions confidential when appropriate
- Advocates for the nonprofit even when it’s inconvenient
Duty of Loyalty in Action: If you know you have a conflict of interest – say you are related to a proposed vendor – you recuse yourself from a vote about hiring that vendor.
Duty of Obedience
This duty means staying true to the organization’s mission and adhering to laws and policies. A nonprofit board member who fulfills the Duty of Obedience:
- Ensures the organization operates within state and federal laws, including tax-exempt status
- Adheres to the nonprofit’s bylaws and board-approved policies
- Supports mission-aligned decisions, even if they’re unpopular or difficult
Duty of Obedience in Action: You love one of your organization’s programs, but the board determines its off-mission and diverts resources from core services, so you support sunsetting it.
Why Is Choosing the Right Nonprofit Board So Important?
Now that you know a bit more about the responsibilities of board service, let’s dive into choosing the right board.
Joining a board is more than a resume-builder, it’s a deep commitment to advancing a mission you care about. You’ll need to understand the organization’s structure, leadership, programs, funding model and long-term goals. You’ll also spend meaningful time with fellow nonprofit board members, typically meeting quarterly, and engaging in generative conversations about the future.
Most importantly, you’ll be a champion for the cause in your own circles, contributing your time, talent and treasure and inviting others to do the same. This has to be a mission that you can get behind and where you truly want to invest. Some things to think about when selecting a board:
- Do you have specific areas of interest that you’re really passionate about? Education, healthcare, the environment, homelessness, youth, etc.
- Do you want to support an organization that provides direct services within a community or one that works to address systemic challenges? What about an organization that provides resources, strategy and capacity building to a network of related nonprofits (like a Boys & Girls Clubs of America)?
- Are you looking to do something that aligns with your professional career or that rounds out your experiences?
- Do you prefer working with a startup nonprofit that’s still building its structure, or a more established organization with clear systems and a larger staff?
- Is there a required “give or get” contribution? Will you be expected to buy tickets to events or sponsor tables?
- Does the organization demonstrate a real commitment to equity — in leadership, programming and board composition?
- Do you feel good about asking your friends to volunteer or give money to this cause?
Once you’ve determined the type of organization you want to serve, there are some additional questions you want to ask directly of the CEO or board leadership before joining, such as:
- What is the term length?
- Some boards require just a one-year commitment; others may expect three or more years. Ask whether there are term limits. I recommend choosing a board that has term limits to ensure a healthy flow of new perspectives, skills and energy into the board over time.
- Is there a path to leadership within the board?
Whether or not you’re interested in a leadership role, understanding how officers are chosen gives insight into board culture and dynamics.
- How is the board structured and how are decisions made?
Most boards have standing committees like Executive, Finance, Governance and Fundraising (sometimes called Development). Understanding board committees is essential because this is where the bulk of board work happens. Some create ad hoc committees for specific purposes like strategic planning. Ask how often committees meet, if everyone is required to serve on one (I think they should) and how decisions flow from committees to full board votes.
- What qualities or skills make an effective nonprofit board member?
Qualities and skills can be somewhat board dependent. Generally, every board needs individuals who understand finance, legal and risk management. They also benefit from individuals who have experience with fundraising and marketing.
But don’t count yourself out if you’re not a lawyer, marketer or CPA, nonprofits need a wide range of skills, from technology and HR to lived experience and community connections. If you’re passionate, there’s likely a role for you.
Most importantly, if you want to join a board, you need to make a serious commitment to attending meetings and doing committee work, volunteering, accepting assignments on behalf of the board and building strong relationships with fellow board colleagues.
- What is the recruitment process?
You want to understand how a board identifies and then recruits potential board members. This is helpful to know as you’re going through the process — who leads the process and who participates? Is a resume required? Are interviews required? Understanding this process helps you assess whether the organization approaches board development thoughtfully and sets expectations for how you’ll help bring others on in the future.
- What kind of onboarding and support will I receive?
Strong boards invest in their members. Look for:
- A formal orientation or board manual
- Opportunities to meet with staff or attend programs
- Mentorship or pairing with seasoned board members
- Access to learning opportunities such as trainings or retreats
A note on board staff relationships
As you’re assessing a board, you also want to understand its relationship to the CEO and staff. The board–CEO relationship is foundational. While the board sets strategy and holds the CEO accountable, it’s the CEO who oversees staff and executes daily operations. You will want to look for a board that demonstrates signs of a strong relationship with its CEO, but that also works collaboratively with staff without overstepping boundaries because remember, board members don’t supervise staff — that’s the CEO’s role.
Take a leap, serve as a nonprofit board member
Serving on a nonprofit board is an honor — and a responsibility. It’s a chance to lend your expertise, time and heart to a cause you care deeply about. But the most effective board members are those who come in clear-eyed, ready to listen, learn and lead.
By asking the right questions and understanding what board service really entails, you can find the right fit — and become the kind of board member every organization hopes for: engaged, informed and all in.
