While serving on a nonprofit board of directors offers a myriad of opportunities, it also comes with serious social and financial responsibility. Software Advice surveyed those who have either served on a board of directors or recruited new board members to find out what potential members should take into account when evaluating an offer from a nonprofit.

1. Software Advice IndustryView:
Top Skills for Nonprofit Boards
Trends and best practices from the industry

2. Abstract
Board service offers many opportunities for personal and professional benefit; it
also carries great fiduciary responsibility. To find out what prospective board
members should consider when evaluating an offer from a nonprofit, we
surveyed 1,545 people in October 2014 who have served on or recruited for a
board of directors.
Key findings included:
• Assessing your expected level of involvement is the most important
consideration according to 50 percent of respondents.
• Twenty-five percent of respondents said previous fundraising experience is the
most relevant type of professional experience for prospective board members.
• Basic computer skills—such as email and Excel—are the most important
technology skills for successful board service (44 percent).

3. Personal Fulfillment Top Benefit of Board Service
1%
13%
16%
20%
50%
Personal fulfillment
Acquisition of new skills
Hone leadership skills
Network/meet new people
Other benefits
There are many benefits one can receive by serving on a nonprofit’s board. We
confirmed that personal fulfillment is the most common—reported by 50 percent.

4. Involvement Level Most Important Consideration
7%
15%
14%
14%
50%
Expected involvement
Current board diversity
Personal giving requirements
Available subcommittees
Nonprofit's financial standing
Board service requires participation. Fifty-percent of respondents said gauging
how much participation is expected is the top factor to consider.

5. Fundraising Is Most Beneficial Type of Experience
2%
16%
19%
19%
25%
19%
Fundraising
Relevant volunteer work
Professional experience
Project management
Human resources
Other experience
Most respondents agree any professional experience can benefit a nonprofit, but
25 percent say fundraising experience would most likely help someone excel.

6. Basic Computer Knowledge Most Important Tech Skill
9% 1%
12%
15%
19%
44%
Basic computer skills
Fundraising tools
CRM or donor management
Website management
Fund accounting
Other software skills
Even though many nonprofits want to recruit more tech-savvy board members,
having, at minimum, basic knowledge of general software is most important.

7. Read Report Read about our findings in more detail.
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