Once you've identified the kinds of people that you need on your board, the next step is to set yourself up for success. That means having the necessary tools in place for effective recruiting.
Before deciding who to ask, or even where you’ll find your candidates, you want to have these five tools in place:
- Written Job Description
- Interview Questions
- Evaluation Tools
- Board Member Agreement
- Orientation Materials
Draft written job descriptions that outline what it means to serve on your governing board.
Clarify what’s expected of your board members, including the time commitment, fundraising or funding minimums, and any committee assignments.
Treat this job description just like you would a paid staff position. Be as specific as possible to ensure you actually find the trustees you’re looking for.
Get a head start with our sample board member job descriptions and board officer job descriptions.
- Sample Job Description for the Full Board
- Sample Job Description for the Board Chair
- Sample Job Description for the Vice Chair
- Sample Job Description for the Secretary
- Sample Job Description for the Treasurer
Prepare your interview questions in advance so you’re ready when candidates are.
Effective interview questions will help you screen candidates for mission fit as well as all the skills and expertise that you’ve determined you’ll need.
By preparing your questions in advance, you’ll be ready to ask the right questions when the right candidates are ready to talk to you.
Use our sample board candidate interview questions.
Evaluate each candidate, using a tool that ensures objectivity and consistency.
An objective ranking tool will help keep track of the benefits that you see with each candidate, ensure you rate each one objectively, and allow you to compare them to each other effectively.
Use our sample board candidate evaluation form.
Be ready to provide winning candidates with a board member agreement.
A board member agreement is a simple document, signed by the new trustee, the CEO, and the board chair. It's not a legally binding contract. But it's a great way for a potential board member to affirm that they’re willing to live up to the expectations that have been outlined to them.
Use our sample board member agreement.
And, finally, have your orientation process and materials ready in advance.
Before you even begin searching for your new board members, you want every step of the recruiting, screening, and onboarding process in place and ready to go. That includes your charter, annual budget, by-laws, strategic plan, and even bios of the other board members.
It might not surprise you to know that keeping track of these core organizational documents can be a challenge for even the most organized governance teams. That’s why the Documents module in BoardOnTrack is built to keep those key documents all in one place, and always there when you need them.
Follow our recommended board member orientation process.
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