Seeking a seat on a charity board? It's getting easier ALL Edition

• Published in: The Christian Science monitor (1983)
• Main Author: Jeremiah A. Hall Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, Mass The Christian Science Publishing Society (d/b/a "The Christian Science Monitor"), trusteeship under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 24.11.2003
• Subjects: Boards of directors; Charities; Executives; Nonprofit organizations; Volunteers
• ISSN: 0882-7729; 2166-3262

"Charities are looking to reflect the community and that means a push to diversify their boards," says Lynda Williams, director of communications for BoardSource, a nonprofit industry consulting group. "A diverse board will bring different perspectives, different ideas, and recommendations that are better informed and more representative of the community's needs." To fill and diversify their boards, charities now target "up and comers," typically rising stars in the corporate world and "functional experts" who bring specialized expertise. Public- relations executives, accountants, lobbyists, and legal experts are in the most demand, Ms. Williams adds. "First [board members] need to believe in the charity's mission, but they also need to bring money, a special expertise, or connections to occupy a seat." "Charities can't afford to appear unaccountable," says Tara May, principal of Divine Rod, a Washington, D.C., consulting firm that helps nonprofits develop governance and accountability programs. "Donors remember Enron and other corporate scandals and want the same level of transparency in their planning and financial reporting as they are now demanding in the corporate world... A more trusting public is a more giving public."