Not-for-Profit Notebook

Practical insight and analysis on the accounting, audit and tax issues impacting not-for-profit organizations.
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Add Value to Your Nonprofit with an Advisory Board

An advisory board can bring new value, skills and resources to your existing, more formal board of directors. Is creating an advisory board right for your nonprofit?

Look for Holes to Fill in Your Current Board

Advisory BoardLook at your general board members’ demographics and collective profile. Does it lack representation from certain groups, particularly relative to the communities that your organization serves?

An advisory board offers an opportunity to add diversity to your leadership. Consider the skills current board members bring to the table. If members are lacking certain skillsets, you can look to fill those gaps with new advisory board members.

Adding advisory board members can also open the door to funding opportunities. If, for example, your nonprofit is considering expanding its geographic presence, it makes sense to find an advisory board member from outside your current area. That person might be connected with business leaders and be able to introduce board members to appropriate people in his or her community.

A Pipeline to Your Current Board

The advisory role is a great way to get people involved who can’t necessarily make the time commitment that a regular board position would require. The advisory role also may appeal to recently retired individuals or stay-at-home parents wanting to get involved with a nonprofit on a limited basis.

This also can be an ideal way to “test out” potential board members, and even create a pipeline of knowledgeable people for your main board. If a spot does open on your current board and some of your advisory board members are interested in making a bigger commitment, you’ll have a ready pool of informed individuals from which to choose.

Define Responsibilities 

Advisory board members likely will be present at board meetings, so it’s important to explain to them the role they’ll play. Advisory board members aren’t involved in the governance of your organization and can’t introduce motions or vote on them.

How you use your advisory board members is up to you. Use them as much, or as little, as you need; just make sure they understand limits to their authority.