Join the Society of NonProfit Board Directors
we are a community, an alliance, and association of volunteer leaders who serve on the boards of nonprofits, associations, foundations, and charities
Ever think there might be more you could get out of your volunteer board experience?
Joining offers a free trial!
Support the association that supports you and your colleagues from all over the world
3 reasons membership makes sense:
Reason #1
Whitepapers, articles, research
Wouldn’t it be useful if you could have at your fingertips the resources, tips, and tools to make you an even better and more informed board member? Our association partners with content experts in everything from governance, leadership skills on boards, and all the other functional aspects board directors need to get the most of their experience.
Joining as a free trial member means access to 2 free resources: A summary of the “Will to Govern Well” and “35 Questions To Facilitating Change As A Board Director”
Reason #2
Community of board members
Improving your game as a board director shouldn’t always have to mean relying on your Executive Director – no matter how good they are or hiring expensive consultants. Often, the best way to learn is from your peers
Being a member of our association means unique invites to take part in virtual roundtable discussions with your colleagues from all sorts of nonprofits and associations. We also have an active community forum where you can post questions and comments sharing experiences in a confidential sounding board.
Reason #3
Supporting nonprofit governance excellence
Volunteer board service shouldn’t be a second job. It should be about the passion that leads the best leaders of our society to volunteer their leadership skills for the many causes, industries, and professions of nonprofit and associations who need their guidance. Yet, board directors have important fiduciary responsibilities. We believe it’s up to board directors themselves to foster better governance and an enriched volunteer experience.s
By supporting our association, you leave the world with stronger leadership for nonprofits everywhere.
Nonprofit board members from around the world are joining! Here’s just a sample of what some are saying…
"There are some great organizations out there for governance advice but until the Society of NonProfit Board Directors came about, there was nothing specifically for where Board Directors of nonprofits could meet and get a better understanding of what other board members have found works."
"Nothing out there exists quite like the Society of NonProfit Board Directors. Other organizations can claim to help board directors but none have a membership exclusively for nonprofit boards. As a board member for 3 different associations close to the industry, I’m involved, I value making connections across other nonprofits I wouldn’t otherwise meet."
Wade Baldwin, CFP, ICD.D
Chair, Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada
Advocis-The Financial Advisors Association of Canada
Chair of the Board, Royal Canadian Institute for Science Founding Board member, Rethink Sustainability Initiatives Founding Board Member, Energy Efficiency Alberta
"The Society for Nonprofit Directors is the only international organization offering evidence-based practical insights specifically for the volunteer leaders of nonprofit organizations. I’m a Board Vice Chair (Guide Dogs for the Blind Foundation) and a consultant to not-for-profit organizations around the globe. I’m also the author of three texts on not-for-profit leadership and strategy. I’m lucky to have exposure to a multiplicity of resources available to volunteer Board members. IMHO, no other source offers the ROI that membership in the Society for Nonprofit Board Directors provides."
Glenn Tecker
Board Vice-Chair, Guide Dogs for the Blind Foundation
This is the place to connect with other nonprofit board directors and for you to be a better one as well!
Members of our association are from all over the world and from a cross-section of many nonprofits, foundations, associations, and charitable boards.
Kiwani
Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation
Adversity2Advantage
Ethics Practitioners Association of Canada
Institute of Management Consultants
Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust
International Society for Aviation Photography
Emerald Farm Homeowners Association
Passive House Canada
Advocis-The Financial Advisors Association of Canada
Leeds and Grenville Family Health Team
United Way
Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance
Royal Canadian Institute of Science
Rethink Sustainability Initiatives
Energy Efficiency Alberta
International Public Affairs Council
Canadian Institute of Management
ADR Institute of Ontario
…and many, many other nonprofits!
Are you getting everything there is possible out of your board experience? You’ll never know without meeting board directors from nonprofits you might never otherwise meet through membership with us!
PLUS…When you join, here’s what you get…
all included in your membership:
A members-only bulletin board ($120/yr value)
Post your questions and comments for feedback securely and confidentially to get feedback from fellow nonprofit board members who’ve confronted challenges just like yours.
Template “swipe” governance policies, member-only blog content and reference articles ($97 value)
Ever face a situation where you and/or your board might wonder if there might be a template governance policy or written advice out there you reference or download? Why re-invent the wheel? Your membership in the Society of NonProfit Board Directors has got you covered!
Monthly member-only roundtable mastermind discussions ($297/ yr value)
Not sure of what to do at your next board meeting? Need to check your ideas by those who have faced situations like yours but not sure if you want to raise questions or touchy issues in front of your board colleagues at your next meeting? Often, the best ways of learning is from your colleagues where you can partake in frank discussions facilitated by leading experts in everything from governance, board dynamics, strategy, and much more.
These are NOT webinars with a talking head selling you something at the end! They are open, non-judging, conversations allowing you to learn from nonprofit board directors from cross sections of nonprofits you might never otherwise come across. Can’t make a roundtable? NO PROBLEM! As a member, the recordings are also available in the member-only section of the Society’s website.
Access to special research and trends in nonprofit board issues ($97 value)
Benchmark your board and your board experience against hundreds of other nonprofit board directors. Learn what’s working and what’s not. Our annual survey of nonprofit board perceptions is a unique report available to members in the members-only section of the Society’s website.
Special member-only rates, access to online events, and recordings such as the Society’s NonProfit Board Web Summit ($26 value)
Partake in our annual online events. Benefit from the recordings non-members must pay for. Learn from experts from all over the world – all from the benefit of your home or office.
PLUS…a growing library of ebooks on everything needed to be an effective nonprofit board member
here’s just a sample:
A summary of the “Will to Govern Well” ($27 value)
Arguably one of the leading books on nonprofit governance, a summary resource is available to members allowing them a quick “cheat sheet” reference of where and how the best practices in nonprofit governance can be exercised by busy board volunteers like you.
Questions nonprofit board members should ask before a change ($27 value)
As a board, you’re called upon to evaluate strategy. Good strategic decisions, however, need to consider all options before undertaking a major strategic change. As a board member, this resource will help you to determine your organization’s ability and willingness to make a change.
Up Your NonProfit Board’s Performance: Without Needing a PhD in Governance! ($47 value)
Quick answers to the major questions faced by board directors such as yourself:
– Learn how to evaluate your CEO’s performance: You’re a volunteer. You don’t do this every day. So what are the things to look out for in ensuring your Executive Director is up to the job?
– Is the board or staff leading the organization? Each have their roles but the board should be giving direction. What can you do if the reverse begins to happen?
– Just where’s the line between my role and staff’s? Few board members want to “micro-manage” staff but they don’t want to be a “rubber stamp” either!
– Glean out the most relevant information at your next board/ committee meeting: Be more prepared to contribute to the discussion. Handle situations where staff might not leverage the board’s knowledge and expertise.
– Develop strong governance policies: Set the rules clear for succession planning, board oversight and expectations for all.
– Ensure new board members learn the ropes: Set the way so that incoming board directors know their way and can contribute right out the gate.
– Get your board all on the same page: Have every board member understand their role in relation to the mission and strategy of the organization.
– Address the most common challenges of underperforming board: Change the dynamic from boards that get “into the weeds” and whose leadership is weak to strong dynamic decision bodies.
Get Help With the SINGLE Most Important Governance and Strategy Challenges YOU Need to Understand and Master BEFORE Your Next Board Meeting
20 Questions to Vet, Recruit and Retain New Board Members ($27 value)
Here’s what’s covered:
– Quick answers to the major questions faced by board directors such as yourself
– Find the best members to match your organization’s needs and culture You can be picky and you SHOULD be picky!
– Develop recruitment policies and procedures
– Establish strong succession plans that build a pipeline of candidates clambering to join your board.
– Renew the commitment of current board directors
– Encourage more board and committee members to take on executive roles.
– Recruit great volunteers
Setting the tone for recruiting board members starts with the recruitment of great volunteers! Get Help With the SINGLE Most Important Governance and Strategy Challenges YOU Need to Understand and Master BEFORE Your Next Board Meeting
Setting Your NonProfit’s Strategy & Course: Board Meetings Focused on Growing Revenues, More Memberships and Engaging Audiences ARE POSSIBLE! ($47 value)
Here’s what’s covered:
– Quick answers to the major questions faced by board directors such as yourself
– Learn how to define the role of your organization: The space for where nonprofits and associations operate is a competitive one. Setting a unique space aside for the organization is critical with the demands of newer generations.
– How do you determine, measure and improve member/ supporter engagement and satisfaction? When supporters’ engagement with the organization drops off, learn how to lead discussions towards a supporter base that becomes raving fans.
– The government, the public, our audience don’t get it – what can we do to make an impact? Learn the unique niche strategies your organization can change the public dialogue and what your board can do today to begin seeing progress.
– Grow revenues and memberships: Learn the steps needed in your strategy to be more entrepreneurial as an organization so you can compete and win the race for members.
– Develop strong governance policies for succession planning: Set the rules clear for succession planning so that the strategies identified by the board are implemented over the long haul – long after the current board or staff have moved on to other endeavours.
– Ensure new board members learn the ropes: Set the way so that incoming board directors know their way and can contribute right out the gate.
– Get your board all on the same page: Have every board member understand their role in relation to the mission and strategy of the organization.
– Address the most common challenges of an underperforming board: Change the dynamic from boards that get “into the weeds” and whose leadership is weak to strong dynamic decision bodies.
Get Help With the SINGLE Most Important Governance and Strategy Challenges YOU Need to Understand and Master BEFORE Your Next Board Meeting
Get ‘R Done! The Framework For Diagnosing Why NonProfit Board Strategies Go Unrealized – And What You Can Do About It! ($47 value)
Here’s what’s covered:
– Quick answers to the major questions faced by board directors such as yourself
– What to do when it seems the Board just doesn’t execute on its plans: Yes, everyone’s a volunteer but things still need to get done! You can’t order them around but there are steps you can take to encourage progress on board initiatives.
– What to do when not there never seems to be enough board or committee members to volunteer: How can you recruit and craft roles that appeal to committed and competent volunteers?
– What to do when not all board members are taking the initiative needed: How can you encourage more of your current board and committee members to step up?
– What to do about ambivalent or apathetic board and committee members: Get tips on approaching volunteers with tact and diplomacy when it comes to their performance and/ or motivations.
– Get your board “on board” with fundraising: For charities, the role of the board in fundraising is critical yet getting all board members to “open up their rolodexes” can be a challenge.
– Learn the fundamentals of setting and monitoring goals: Executing on strategy first requires an understanding of what goes into inclusive and comprehensive goal setting. Get the right plan in place and executing on your strategy becomes all the more likely.
Get Help With the SINGLE Most Important Strategy Challenges YOU Need to Understand and Master BEFORE Your Next Board Meeting