Locating board members who are well-suited to a particular NPO can be a significant hurdle in the process of establishing the company. Networking is the best way to undertake the challenge of finding the best people for the job.
Professional associations are a great place for a founder to meet with people and tell them about the specific organization. Community and city council meetings are good places to find those who are involved with other projects or even related ones. These civic-minded individuals are perhaps the best prepared to understand what the needs of the community are. Corporations also sometimes come into being as a result of an online collaboration. If the community that a prospective NPO will serve is widely scattered, having board members from across the country could be a useful tool for the NPO.
Discussing what an NPO does is the best way to spread word of mouth about the organization and learn who is inspired by the mission. In talking about a nonprofit, any founder who is looking for potential board members creates opportunities for prospective members to not only learn about the organization, but to express interest, as well. Networking through formal or informal organizations can be the best way for a founder to find the right people to become board members.
