The Leadership Promise of Junior Boards: Part I of II
Junior boards are a creative and effective way for nonprofit organizations to capitalize on the time, talent, and networks of young professionals. For the junior members, these boards present an opportunity to develop new skills and broaden their professional and social circles, all while serving a cause they feel good about. It can be a win-win for all parties when junior boards are strategically and thoughtfully executed.
Junior board members are enthusiastic volunteers, strong ambassadors for the organization’s
The junior board function varies across the sector. For some organizations, junior boards exist solely as fundraising entities. Their primary function is to host social events that raise much-needed dollars and introduce the organization to a new generation of committed donors. Other organizations utilize their junior boards to help build their base of community service volunteers, access pro bono skills and services, and advise in programmatic areas, such as homelessness and HIV/AIDS.
Considering Your Service
Before you accept an invitation to serve, it is advisable to give thoughtful consideration to what you hope to achieve through the experience and what you can offer to the nonprofit organization. You should feel confident that your participation will help you develop your skills and talents and better the organization’s ability to fulfill its mission. The organization should be assured that it is spending precious time and resources to build a board that will help it accomplish its strategic goals.
A Personal Assessment
The success of the placement is partly based on how well you weigh the expectations for service against your ability and willingness to fulfill them. The following questions are meant to guide you to determine if a junior board position is right for you at this time in your life.
1) Does the mission of the organization motivate me to serve? Does it compliment my personal interests or passions? Your level of commitment to the organization will coincide with the extent to which you believe in what the organization stands for and what it is trying to accomplish through its programs and services in the community. A nonprofit organization’s mission statement should articulate its distinct purpose and essence. Familiarize yourself with the organization’s mission statement and then ask yourself if it: 1) is aligned with your personal beliefs and values; and 2) excites you to take action.
2) Do I have time to fulfill my service obligations to this board? Young professionals have many work and non-work activities that compete for their time and energy. While the time requirement may vary throughout the year, you can get a good idea of a junior board’s overall annual time expectation by reviewing a job description. It is good practice for junior boards to have a job description for each appointed or elected position. The description should detail meeting attendance requirements and other time requirements, as well as the terms of the length of service to the organization.
It is also helpful to speak with current members to get a sense of the real time they spend per month on junior board activities. As expected, more time is usually required for higher positions on the board. Emily Rukin, a member of the Bowrey Residents’ Committee (BRC) junior board, estimates she spends at least four hours per month in her role as chair of the Community Service Committee.
Above all else, be honest with yourself about the time that you can practically commit to the organization. It does not benefit anyone if you are not able to fulfill your service obligation. Choose a position that is best for you at this point in time.
3) What unique talent or skills can I bring to and take away from the junior board? Joining a junior board is a special opportunity to use your professional and personal skills to help an organization reach its short and long-term goals. A CPA may be a perfect candidate for a treasurer position or a volunteer recruitment position depending on what she’s interested in pursuing in her free time. Consider which of your many skills and talents you would like to use in this position and, also, what new skills you might like to acquire (e.g., board governance, budgeting, planning special events, etc). Does your skill set match what the junior board needs? Is there ample opportunity to learn?
4) How long is the service commitment? Most junior boards have term-limits ranging from as little as one year to as many as three. Again, considering the time you have available to dedicate to an organization, can you commit to one or multiple years of service? Think carefully about any professional or personal life changes that may impact your ability to serve, such as job relocation, planning a marriage, starting a family, or taking care of aging parents. Turnover between terms can be disruptive to your fellow board members and damage the confidence a sponsoring organization has in the junior board.
5) Is there a financial obligation? Nonprofit boards often have a “Give or Get” policy, which outlines an annual fundraising goal for each member. This policy provides the option for members to either make a personal contribution or make the contribution through fundraising activities (e.g., purchasing a table at a gala, securing new sponsorships for an event, establishing new funding relationships, etc.). For example, the City Harvest junior board in New York City has an annual “Give or Get” of $1,000. Not every junior board has a “Give or Get” but, since many junior boards were established with the primary goal of raising funds for the sponsoring organization, you should be aware of what is expected of you.
However, don’t let a “Give or Get” be a deterrent if you are unable to meet the financial goal. In many cases, a junior board will offer flexibility to members who demonstrate extraordinary commitment in other ways. The BRC junior board has annual “Give or Get” of $500 for general members but those who cannot reach that goal are welcome to suggest an amount that is personally significant to them. Also keep in mind that many employers offer great opportunities to take advantage of matching gifts* programs. *(An employer-sponsored corporate matching gift program will match any charitable contributions that an employee makes. Your gift may double or possibly triple.)
6) What support is available from the nonprofit organization? The level of support from the sponsoring organization will vary by institution but best practice suggests that there should be an open, transparent and positive working relationship between the junior board and the organization’s leadership. The New York Urban League Young Professionals has a liaison from the staff who attends all board meetings, attends events hosted by the group and carries the board’s message back to the organization. They also have regular interaction with the organization’s executive director. The executive director is a great resource for a junior board because he or she has global perspective on the organization and can provide unique guidance for the junior board’s strategic plans. You should inquire about the junior board’s relationship with the organization to ensure that you will have the resources and support you need to have a meaningful service experience.
7) Am I comfortable lending my personal relationships and resources during my service with this organization? It is highly likely that as you begin to work with a junior board and grasp the goals and objectives of the organization, you will contemplate your resources, including the people that you know, and how they might help the organization. This is a good thing. For instance, you may wish to introduce the organization to people who will sponsor and attend an event. However, you should know ahead of time how much of your network and resources you are willing to share with the organization and the boundaries you want to set around your personal relationships.
8) Who else is involved? Will I enjoy working with the other members? The recruitment process is a great time to learn more about the other individuals on the junior board. Take time to talk with current and past board members about their experience and impressions of the junior board’s effectiveness. Don’t be afraid to request copies of biographies and to review them to see what the current leaders have accomplished during their tenure. This can help you understand if the junior board members are active in their mission or, perhaps, more interested in having the experience on their resumes. In addition, observe how the board members interact with each other and the way in which they represent the organization in private and public forums. Ultimately, you won’t know for certain ahead of time if there are any personality conflicts but you will have some indication of who the current leaders are and if you feel comfortable serving with them.
The Personal Assessment should help you make an informed and honest decision about your participation on a junior board. In Part II of our article, we will explore how to make the most of your service experience.
In their own words - Junior Board Members
"Junior boards are smart and strategic because they provide an increased sweat equity and intellectual capital for nonprofits."
-Nicole Sebastian, Manager, Governance, Robin Hood Foundation
"Serving on a board is a commitment of time and energy—the more seriously you take it, the more successful you will be as an individual member and as a group. It may also require a personal gift and/or fund raising activities…which members should be prepared to do to the extent of their ability."
-Tracy L. Walsh, Executive Director, HIV Law Project
"It’s important to write a check but it’s also important to give time and energy to make something better through your actions."
-Emily Rukin, Junior Board Member, Bowery Residents Committee and City Harvest
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