Screwtape’s 10 Tips for Building a Better Board

Devil

 

  1. Limit the board to family and friends, people who will support whatever you want to do.
  2. If you add more board members, make sure they have a high net worth.
  3. Allocate minimal resources to recruiting; just have existing board members ask their rich friends.
  4. Don't worry about diversity; 86% of nonprofit board members are white, non-Latinos.
  5. Don't worry about whether the prospective board members will commit sufficient time to the organization; you need their money and connections.
  6. Don't worry about whether the prospects have the right set of skills and knowledge to govern the organization; you need their money and connections, not their interference.
  7. Inform prospects that board service is easy and will require minimal time.
  8. Don't inundate prospects with organizational materials; it will only confuse them; these things can wait.
  9. Don't ask prospects to submit their qualifications; you need to base the relationships on trust.
  10. If someone recruits a prospect, make sure you elect the prospect; don't make enemies.