Editor’s note: In keeping with another Sopris Sun tradition — we have a few — contributors were invited to write about trying something new in the new year. Do you have something new in your life to share? Write to us at news@soprissun.com
Have you considered serving on a board but want to ensure you find the nonprofit organization that best fits you?
It’s a valid question when you consider that you want the experience to be rewarding for you and the organization you’re serving.
The revered Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
With 2023 winding down, I reflected on how to best serve others. I’ve served on nonprofit boards in the past and always found it to be rewarding.
Over the last five years as a Sopris Sun freelance reporter, I’ve written many articles on mental health. Early in my reporting, I found a steady and reliable mental health advocacy source with Mental Health Colorado, a non-governmental, nonprofit organization based in Denver that, according to their website, “advocates for every Coloradan who experiences a mental health or substance use condition each year. We engage policymakers, providers, the public, and the press to promote mental well-being, ensure equitable access to mental health and substance use care, and end discrimination.”
I grew up witnessing family members and friends and experienced my own struggles with mental health issues and dealing with the stigma that surrounds that subject, so last month, when an email newsletter from Mental Health Colorado announced that they were seeking members for Mental Health Colorado’s “Experts by Experience” advisory committee, I completed the application and will begin serving on the statewide committee this month.
The webpage states the committee “informs and provides feedback on Mental Health Colorado’s policy work, ensuring our organization continues to support policies through the lens of people with living/lived experience.”
According to statistics on the Colorado Nonprofit Association website, the state is home to more than 23,000 registered charitable nonprofit organizations, with an annual economic impact of over $40 billion and employing 10% of Colorado’s workforce.
Here are some things to consider before deciding to serve on a nonprofit board:
Mission Alignment: The experience will be more enjoyable and fulfilling if the nonprofit’s mission and values align with your personal beliefs and passions.
Time Commitment: When interviewing for a board director position, ask for an average of hours per month needed to attend board meetings and for additional committee work or other responsibilities. Be realistic about your time commitment so you don’t overextend yourself.
Expertise and Skill Sets: Consider how your expertise aligns with the organization’s needs. Ask yourself what skills you can bring to the organization to advance its mission.
Financial Commitment: Some boards ask their directors to contribute financially or meet individual fundraising goals. Understand the organization’s financial health and your responsibility in supporting its sustainability.
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities: Understand the legal and ethical obligations of serving as a board director, including fiduciary duties, compliance with laws and adherence to ethical standards.
Organizational Stability: Beyond the organization’s financial standing, a solid governance structure cultivates a sound decision-making environment.
Networking Opportunities: Consider the benefits of board service when connecting with other board members, community partners, staff and stakeholders, and how the opportunity can enhance your personal and professional development.
Another way of serving a nonprofit organization is to consider joining a committee or advocacy board. For example, KDNK Community Access Radio recently held an election to fill board of director seats but also invited community members to join KDNK committees, including grants, events, tech, finance, human resources or the Community Advisory Board.
The Sopris Sun’s 2023-2024 Parachute to Aspen Nonprofit Giving Guide (www.bit.ly/SunGivingGuide) lists local nonprofit organizations in English and Spanish. Consider browsing through it to find an organization that interests you, or ask a friend for a recommendation.
Whether you become a board member, sit on an advisory board, or volunteer to help with an event, you may find yourself along the way.