LESSON 13 - If You Need a Volunteer, Recruit a Volunteer

Welcome to Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom Blog, a 40-week journey through the new book, Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom, by Dan Busby and John Pearson. Each Wednesday, we're featuring a guest writer’s favorite snippet from the week's topic. Dan Davis is our guest blogger this week for the third of four lessons in "Part 4: Epiphanies in the Boardroom."

LESSON 13 OF 40 - If You Need a Volunteer, Recruit a Volunteer

If you need a board member, recruit a board member.

THE BIG IDEA FROM THE BOOK: In Lesson 13, we are reminded of the difference between serving as a volunteer and serving as a governing board member.  Service is important but it can come in many different flavors.

Every board member is a volunteer, but not every volunteer can be a board member.

MY FAVORITE INSIGHTS from Lesson 13, pages 63-67:
• Peter Drucker: “There is one thing all boards have in common….They do not function.”
• “Why are you doing what others can do when leaving undone what only you can do?”
• There are three board hats that can be worn: Governance Hat, Volunteer Hat and Participant Hat
• Volunteering is OPTIONAL! 

MY COLOR COMMENTARY:
Board members’ accountability to God for the ministry, their need for spiritual wisdom and discernment, and their responsibility for the direction of ministry should not be taken lightly. Not all volunteers are competent as board members. Only the board can set direction, establish/review policies, hire the CEO, and monitor results. These responsibilities take special skills that not all volunteers possess.  

Good governance takes time and special expertise which may leave little to no time for other volunteer opportunities. Do you have the right kind of volunteers serving on your board?

THIS WEEK’S QUOTES & COMMENTARY BY DAN DAVIS:

Dan Davis is the president of Mission Increase Foundation, a national organization helping Christian nonprofits with biblically-based fundraising and capacity building. Dan has worked in the Christian nonprofit space for over 25 years and serves on several boards in the Portland, Oregon area. He has been married to his wife, Megan, for 29 years and has two children attending college. For more information on Mission Increase Foundation, visit their website here.

TO-DO TODAY: 

• Are there board members that need to be released to pursue their greater passion in a volunteer role? If so, do the board and them a favor and free them to pursue this passion!
• In your next board meeting, review the three hats each board member wears and discuss the differences. Also, make sure to discuss this with each new member before you invite them on your board! 
  

NEXT WEDNESDAY:
On Feb. 21, 2018, watch for Bruce Johnson's commentary on Lesson 14, "If You Need a Board Member, Recruit a Board Member. If you need a volunteer, recruit a volunteer." 

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