Our most recent articles have addressed aspects of board service and donations. We’ve discussed how to discern a sound nonprofit, your role as a board member, and some important details about gift-giving.

In this article, I’d like to explore how to align values with the way you devote time and money to a charitable cause.

Nonprofits are expressly organized for a public or mutual benefit other than generating profit. They can come in the form of charities, educational institutions, museums, soup kitchens, churches, and others, and have played critical roles in issues such as human rights, health and safety, workplace and gender equity, animal safety, and more.

Although global, nonprofits are most robust in the United States, and the opportunities to make a difference through gifts of money and time multiply daily, according to Charitable Giving USA. If you live in California – as I might assume since you likely are reading a California newspaper or website – you live in the state that has the most registered nonprofits of all 50 states, according to the National Center for Charitable Statistics.

What guidelines might you use for determining where and how to make an impact?

Vision

Related links

Before joining that nonprofit board, ask these questions first
Forming a tax-exempt nonprofit doesn’t mean its law-exempt
Consider tax, financial implications of joining a board

Make sure a charitable sector’s focus motivates and inspires you.

Are you pulled toward human services? Health? Art, culture, and humanities? Environmental or animal protection? Know what aligns most with your values – what resonates in a significant way for you. If you could solve one problem while here in this life, what would you choose?

Here are three examples of inspiring visions: “A world without Alzheimer’s disease.” (Alzheimer’s Association) “Create a world where no child goes to bed hungry.” (Feed the Children) “A world where everyone has a decent place to live.” (Habitat for Humanity)

Mission

How do you like to make a difference? Three nonprofits might have the vision to fight world hunger, but the three might also have different missions – the way they go about fulfilling their vision.

For example, nonprofit #1 might lobby world leaders for underlying causes, whereas nonprofit #2 might organize efforts to transport food to third-world countries without access to any food. Nonprofit #3 might train volunteers to work with affected areas to teach local citizens how to grow sustainable crops. When you think of making a difference, what kind of mission draws you most? Consider this as you think about devoting service and donations.

Impact

What kind of impact does the nonprofit make through its mission?

Once you have selected a nonprofit sector that excites you, do you want to make a local, state, national, or global impact? In what way? Further, once you have narrowed this down, can the nonprofits reflecting this mission show that they are truly making the impact they say they are? How? Can you verify this through credible reports? Other verifying tangibles?

Many are the well-meaning nonprofits led by devoted staff that do not truly make an impact. Make sure your decision-making considers this.

Integrity

Is it important to you that the nonprofit walk its talk in the way it operates?

In 2018, a well-known museum for contemporary art hosted an exhibit on African Art but reflected dissonance in its values and actions when it hired two white curators to manage and showcase the exhibit. The lesson here? Get acquainted with your nonprofit’s values and how it lives these out through the way it operates internally.

Your role

Not everyone should be a board member. How do you decide?

During the past 3 weeks, we have focused on board service, and you should have some great takeaways as to the ins and outs of board service. If this is what you are considering, be sure you select a role that is right for you.

For example, if you are invited to be on the board and on its fund development committee, what are the responsibilities for this? Will you be providing guidance for the way the development efforts are overseen? Will you be inviting others to donate? Make sure that if you are considering board service, your strengths align with the responsibilities outlined.

Many boards will also provide training for their members, understanding that there are those who are willing but who also appreciate having solid and up-to-date knowledge and skills.

Do you prefer philanthropic giving instead of board service? You will still want to receive reports as to how your gifts are being used and how they make an impact.

Related Articles

And a note on philanthropic giving: If you choose to give through board service, understand that as a board member, it is important to contribute financially, as well. Many boards stipulate this as part of the responsibilities. If not, however, please consider giving as part of your service.

Do your homework. If the nonprofit’s role is to make an impact through charitable giving, volunteering and other kinds of support, your role is to be knowledgeable about what you are considering in such a partnership. Do your research so that when you show up to make a difference, you can do so 100%.

Patti Cotton serves as a thought partner to CEOs and their executive teams to help manage complexity and change.  Reach her via email at [email protected].