At Richard Male and Associates we receive requests all the time to help non-profits develop and strengthen their boards of directors.

The first thing we usually do when we meet with a board is give them a board grid (if you want one email info@richardmale.com ), which helps the members analyze the balance, diversity, and inclusiveness of their existing board. We then discuss what kind of board they want to form (working, policy, fundraising, etc.), and what their expectations and requirements are for potential board members.

Eventually, the conversation always comes around to identifying and locating new board members who fit the profile that the non-profit is looking for. So, this week, let's just bypass everything else and go straight to tips on locating new board members.

1. Start off by asking your key volunteers if they know any prime candidates that fit your profile. The volunteers are committed to the organization and have a basic understanding of the mission, vision, and values; they are good recruiters.
2. Ask your current board members to identify candidates from their business and social networks.
3. Solicit names from your staff members. They may know people who would love to be part of your organization.
4. Scan your donor base for people who have already made donations to your organization and are committed to supporting it. It's always good to have a couple major donors on the board, as they will be more invested in the organization as fundraisers - not just as donors.
5. Look at your vendor list (where you bank, purchase insurance, buy office supplies, etc.) and recruit from this group. The vendors - especially if they are large institutions such as banks and utility companies - might become major sponsors of your special events.
6. Find out where your stakeholders go to celebrate their religious beliefs. You can recruit people from these religious institutions.
7. Ask one of your clients or someone from your constituency to come on board. These people can illuminate the emotional and passionate side of your story because you have helped them. I always try to take one of these people on site visits and to funding interviews.
8. Check out non-profits that have a database of corporate executives that are looking for placement on non-profit boards. All states have a volunteer center or some organization that fulfills this function. Here are some national websites you could check out www.boardsource.org or www.volunteermatch.org" .
9. Send out a notice that says you are looking for a "few good board members." Send it to everyone on your mailing list.
10. If you have a Young Non-profit Professional Network (YNPN), or a university based non-profit program in your community, contact them and have them to post a notice that you are looking for board members. This is a way to get younger people who want to have a career in the non-profit field on your board.