This document discusses the benefits of serving on the board of a nonprofit organization. It outlines personal, career, and community benefits such as personal growth, networking, leadership skills, and the satisfaction of helping others. The responsibilities of board members are described, including approving the mission, developing policy, evaluating the executive director, and fundraising. The document provides tips for becoming a board member such as matching interests to the organization's mission and considering time commitments. Qualities of effective board members are listed as well as next steps for getting involved.

1. Community Service
Participating as a Board Member of a Nonprofit

2. Value of Service
• By serving on a board of a constructive
and well run nonprofit organization,
bank employees promote the most
favorable community environment
possible.
“How wonderful that no one need wait a single
moment to improve the world.”
— Anne Frank
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3. Personal Benefits of Board
Involvement
• Personal growth working as part of a team
• Enhance networking skills
• Improve communication skills
• Exercise civic skills
• Increase leadership skills
• Experience the satisfaction of building something
that helps people
• Experience the rewards of commitment to
community
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4. Career Benefits of Board
Involvement
• Apply your professional knowledge in a new context
• Provide feedback based on professional background
• Make sound business decisions when faced with
complex alternatives
• Effectively position the organization for the long term
• Practice strategic thinking
• Use critical thinking and negotiation skills
• Learn more about your community
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5. What Board Members Do
• Approve agency mission
• Develop policy
• Plan direction of the organization
• Evaluate the Executive Director
• Raise funds
• Govern
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6. What you can contribute to a
nonprofit:
• Provide a new perspective
• Communication skills
• Financial analysis skills
• An understanding of risk management
• Creative Problem solving
• Represent diversity - ethnic, economic,
occupational
• Expertise
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7. What Does it Take to be a Great
Board Member?
• Regular attendance at board and committee
meetings
• Focus on policy rather than operations
• Positive contributions to group dynamics
• A willingness to offer a dissenting opinion
• Maintaining independent judgment about issues
• Active dialogue on substantive issues
• Provide timely constructive feedback
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8. Tools of a Board Member
• Roberts Rules of Order, by-laws, budgets
• Objective goals linked to management incentives
• Committees
• Strategic Plan
• Business Plan
• Monthly Financial Reports and Annual Audit
• Conflict of Interest Statement
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9. What to Consider When Getting
on a Board
• Match your interests with the mission
• Time Commitment - term of office
• Starting on a Committee and growing to a board
position
• The board may expect a contribution from your
employer and from you
• Is this an opportunity for you to grow?
• Potential liability - check for director’s insurance
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10. Boards that work are:
• independent of management
• independent of individual clients
• attuned to needs of both
• exercise their own judgment
• bring resources from the environment
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11. Good Board Members:
• Attend board and committee meetings on a
regular basis
• See the total picture
• Ask incisive questions
• Have high integrity
• Are free of conflicts of interest
• Make a meaningful contribution
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12. Next Steps - Getting Involved
• Ask for a List of qualified nonprofit organizations in
your community
• Express interest to board members and executive
director
• Check with your supervisor before accepting a
board position
• Complete Volunteer Involvement Form for the board
and your employer
• Send a brochure and background on the board to
your Community Affairs Manager.
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13. U.S. Bank Community Affairs
Manager
• Kim Kuhle, Vice President
• 233 South 13th, OM-NE-LT10
• Lincoln, Nebraska 68508
• 402-434-1249
• 402-434-1241 Fax
• 402-639-8855 cellular
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