NGO Boards: Recruiting the Right People

By Lisa Garson – Action Appointments Executive Director

Following on from my previous blog on NGO boards and the vital role they play in the sector, this post looks at why it is so important to be intentional about how we recruit these volunteers.

In my experience, the appointment of NGO board members is too often treated lightly. Overworked executive staff take a hasty approach, relying on referrals from existing board members, choosing people they already know, or asking colleagues and friends for suggestions, rather than giving the process the attention it deserves. Appointing the wrong person can have devastating consequences for an organisation, something I have witnessed many times over the course of my career.

Running a professional, well managed recruitment process is the obvious remedy, and it is a service we are seeing growing demand for. The stronger your board, the more sustainable your organisation will be. Finding people who share your vision and mission matters, and so does recognising that you may not already know the right person for the role. There are many skilled NGO professionals eager to increase their impact and contribute to organisations doing work they believe in.

Taking candidates through a rigorous, well defined process shows them that their interest is being taken seriously. When people compete for a board position alongside other strong candidates, they tend to take the responsibility more seriously once appointed. At the same time, NGOs gain a clearer sense of what a new member will bring, and can feel more confident in their commitment. This kind of preparation sets a new relationship off on the right foot, with both sides feeling that the decision was made thoughtfully.

This is where a specialist recruiter adds real value. We have access to a wide network of NGO professionals who are not actively looking but are open to the right opportunity, people your own networks are unlikely to reach. We also bring an outside perspective on what the board genuinely needs, rather than filling a gap with the first willing volunteer, and a structured process that keeps the organisation, not personal connections, at the centre of the decision.

Recruiting a board member calls for the same steps as any executive hire. The NGO needs to be clear on why it needs this person, what skills and experience are missing from the current board, and what commitment, knowledge and connections the role requires. It also needs a plan for reaching potential candidates, usually led by the board chair with support from a selection committee.

Action Appointments has placed many successful board members across a wide range of organisations, from large international NGOs to small local ones. Once we have sourced a group of professional applicants who are genuinely aligned with the role and drawn to the organisation's mission, we take them through the same rigorous process as any other recruitment, to arrive at the best possible appointment. If your board could do with an injection of the right skills and experience, we would be glad to talk you through how the process works.