Building an engaged, effective board of directors is one of the most difficult tasks an executive director faces. Despite a wealth of research and resources on the topic, and a large pool of previously untapped or currently mismatched board members, most executive directors report dissatisfaction with the composition and effectiveness of their boards. How can you build the right board to support your mission?

Our Board Recruitment Service Grant helps you:

• Catalogue your current board strengths and competencies
• Identify the desired board competencies that can further your strategic goals
• Develop pipeline and recruitment strategies that bring you the right people
• Build the marketing materials that support your searches

With documented best practices and potential board members at every turn, why is board recruitment and management still on the top of every executive director's wish list? Because designing and building an effective board raises different challenges for every organization. In some cases, you're following someone else's guidelines and trying to build a board that doesn't fit your needs. In others, you know what skills to target, but not how to find or attract the people who have those skills. Linking your board recruitment strategy to your overall organizational strategy is always difficult, but it's perhaps one of the most powerful changes you can make as a leader. Our Board Recruitment Service Grant can help get you there.

The impact of each project varies, but you can expect to:

• Integrate your board strategy with your organizational strategy
• Develop a comprehensive plan for board development
• Address gaps in your current board skills and competencies
• Develop a sustainable sourcing process that brings in the right candidates at the right time
• Create effective marketing for board positions

Our Board Recruitment Service Grant is most likely to be successful under certain circumstances. We recommend you apply if your organization meets the following requirements:

• Clearly articulated strategic priorities and organizational goals
• An Executive Director and Board of Directors who are strongly committed to this project
• Basic systems to manage board performance and recruiting
• At least 3 employees
• Staff that can invest the necessary time to make the project succeed:
  • Executive Director: 2-3 hours each week
  • Day-to-Day Contact: 3 hours each week
  • Board Representative: 2-3 hours each week
  • All Board Members: 1-4 hours each over the course of the project

Your Taproot Foundation team will be staffed by human resources experts who have made a personal commitment to strengthening the nonprofit sector. Visit our volunteer roles page for additional information about HR volunteer roles.

If this project appeals to your organization and you have the recommended items in place, please review our grant process and criteria, and then apply. If you have questions about the grant or your eligibility, please contact us.