Thinking of applying to BoardLead? Check out our FAQs to get a better sense of our program and process.

Getting Started

WHAT IS BOARDLEAD?

BoardLead elevates and transforms leadership in the social good sector by partnering with top companies, professional services firms, and foundations to recruit, place, train, and support talented professionals for high-impact board service.

Through a rigorous recruitment, training, and matching process, BoardLead identifies promising candidates for board service on both Boards of Directors and young professionals boards, then facilitates an introduction. Nonprofits then meet one-on-one with each candidate and together begin the process of deciding whether it’s a strong match. For the candidates ultimately vetted, nominated, and elected to boards, we provide governance training and offer one-on-one support.

Becoming a BoardLead partner also means your entire board will gain access to resource-sharing opportunities exclusively available to our BoardLead Nonprofit Network. These resources include live and recorded trainings, thought leadership and toolkits, and networking opportunities for nonprofit leaders and peers.

WHO PAYS FOR BOARDLEAD?

BoardLead is offered free of charge to our nonprofit partners! Costs are generously covered by our corporate partners and other funders.

SHOULD I APPLY TO BOARDLEAD?

At BoardLead, we welcome nonprofits and charities to apply to partner with us in service of advancing your board development practices. BoardLead is designed for nonprofit organizations eager to develop and grow their Board of Directors and/or their young professionals board. The BoardLead application process entails organizations completing the full BoardLead application (which typically takes roughly 2 to 3 hours), and then potentially engaging with our team in a video interview call. Nonprofits can apply to recruit for both their governing board and young professionals board on the same application. For organizations then selected as BoardLead nonprofit partners, partnering with BoardLead provides significant value add with respect to board development and governance practices.

Our Governing Board recruitment track supports our partner nonprofits by working to connect them with talented professionals ready for governing board service, significantly reducing the time it takes to find, vet, and elect impact-ready board members. BoardLead candidates bring a passion for the mission, keen intellect and skills, an understanding of good governance, and a readiness to generate resources for their organization. BoardLead also provides training and resource-sharing opportunities exclusively available to our nonprofit partners.

Our track for Young Professionals' Board recruitment, by contrast, supports our nonprofit partners who are looking to engage earlier-career professionals in the work of achieving their mission, whether through fundraising, advocacy, or in-kind support. Through the same rigorous recruitment, training, and matching process that is the hallmark of BoardLead, nonprofits are connected with skilled and dedicated earlier career professionals. These individuals receive extensive training to prepare them for success on day one, as well as ongoing support and coaching to help position them for additional leadership and governance opportunities in the future.

Organizations must meet the following qualifications to apply and recruit governing board candidates through BoardLead:

• Must be a 501(c)(3) organization

• Should be looking to build and strengthen your Board of Directors, which is a governing board with fiduciary oversight responsibilities.

• Must permit new board members to be vetted and elected in a 3-4 month time frame.

• Maintains active Directors and Officers Insurance, or is willing to obtain it.

• Must include an indemnification clause in the bylaws protecting board members from liability they may be exposed to because of their association with the organization, or your board is willing to add such language.

• Must have a minimum of five (5) board members.

• Must have a board member “give” expectation of no more than $5,000 and a “give/‘get” expectation of no more than $15,000.

IF NOW ISN’T THE RIGHT TIME TO APPLY, CAN OUR ORGANIZATION APPLY TO A LATER ROUND?

Absolutely! We welcome you to submit an application when your organization is ready. Please complete our Contact Form to let our team know your intention to do so and we will make note.

The BoardLead Process

WHAT IS THE TYPICAL TENURE OF A BOARDLEAD GOVERNING BOARD AND/OR BOARDLEAD YOUNG PROFESSIONAL CANDIDATE?

BoardLead governing board candidates typically have been identified by their employer as being high-performing and high-priority professionals. They’re coming with considerable management experience, and are often in management positions with on average 10-25 years of experience. They are mostly in their 30s or 40s and bring a range of expertise, from finance and strategy to HR, IT, marketing, legal, and more. While this is often their first board experience, they tend to be passionate and seasoned volunteers who have self-selected to pursue this program. BoardLead is a great way for these professionals to find nonprofit board placement opportunities and receive wrap-around training and support to serve as impactful board members.

BoardLead Young Professionals candidates typically have been identified by their employer as early-career professionals in their 20s and 30s who are excited to give back to their community, ready to engage in outreach and fundraising efforts, and looking forward to building an understanding of high-impact board service. BoardLead Young Professionals is a great way for these individuals to develop the knowledge and skills to position themselves well for future leadership and governing board service opportunities.

HOW DO YOU PRIORITIZE FINDING CANDIDATES FOR OUR BOARD THAT MEET OUR DIVERSITY NEEDS?

BoardLead hopes to make board matching as seamless as possible by getting to know the needs of your nonprofit board and the interests of the professionals we place. Our team makes matches considering a number of factors, including the number of available board seats each organization has, mission passion as expressed by candidates, skill alignment, and diversity needs that nonprofits highlight in their application or interview. We consider these factors with the hopes that we are able to make connections that strengthen board leadership and ultimately have the highest chance of election. While we cannot promise that we will be able to identify a candidate that meets your specific diversity needs if your organization is invited to participate in BoardLead, we do keep this top of mind as we make introductions.

DO WE HAVE TO ELECT OUR MATCHED CANDIDATE?

No - BoardLead does not require our nonprofit partner to elect any candidate we introduce to your organization. While we do our best to make matches that appear strong on paper, we trust our partners to decide whether the candidate is ultimately right for your organization. We do ask that our nonprofit partners hold at least one meeting with any/each candidate BoardLead matches to your organization.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO NOT GET A MATCH THROUGH BOARDLEAD?

Matches are made based on a variety of factors, including expressed candidate interest. If we are unable to identify a candidate whose passions and contributions align with your organization’s stated needs, there is a chance we will not be able to make a match. However, your organization will remain in our network - with access to BoardLead trainings and resources - and your organization will be able to easily opt-into future rounds of BoardLead matching.

WILL CANDIDATES BE INTERESTED IN MY ORGANIZATION’S CAUSE AREA?

There is a good chance! We build our nonprofit network to represent a wide array of mission areas, as we find that our candidates come to us with a diversity of personal passion areas and expertise.

IF WE WERE INVITED BY A COMPANY OR NETWORK TO APPLY TO BOARDLEAD, WILL WE ONLY RECEIVE MATCHES TO CANDIDATES FROM THE CORPORATE PARTNER WHO INVITED US?

No - Nonprofits accepted as BoardLead partners are eligible to be matched to candidates from any of our corporate partners, based on the candidate’s fit for what you’re seeking in board members, regardless of which organization invited you to apply to BoardLead.

MY BOARD MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ELECT A CANDIDATE BY THE DEADLINE. CAN I STILL APPLY?

We ask that our nonprofit partners vet and (if they chose to do so) elect BoardLead candidates within a 3-4 month timeline, either in the spring or fall. Additionally, we do accept nonprofit applications to BoardLead on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply, and share more about your board member election timeline in your application; we are typically able to work with nonprofit partners on timelines that work for our program cycle and their election processes.

CAN ELECTIONS HAPPEN BEFORE BOARDLEAD’S ELECTION DEADLINE?

Yes - Elections can take place at any time before our election deadline, and we encourage you to use the same vetting process you would for any other candidate you’d consider for your board as long as vetting happens within the BoardLead timeline. As soon as a candidate is elected, they may begin their board service.

HOW LONG WILL A BOARDLEADER SERVE ON MY BOARD?

BoardLead candidates are expected to serve one full term of board service, once elected. After that, it’s up to both you and the candidate to decide if they will be up for reelection.

CANDIDATES RECEIVE “ONGOING TRAINING” AFTER THEIR ELECTION. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

BoardLead provides governing board candidates with our signature Good Governance Training, in addition to providing one-on-one consultation to candidates for the first few months after their election. BoardLead Young Professionals candidates also receive access to customized board service training opportunities and one-on-one consultation as needed. Free, ongoing training opportunities are also available to all of our candidates throughout the year.

WHAT IF BOARDLEAD ISN’T THE RIGHT FIT FOR MY ORGANIZATION BUT I AM STILL INTERESTED IN STAYING CONNECTED?

If you’d like to stay informed about all that is going on at Cause Strategy Partners, including gaining access to resources, sign up for our newsletter here or follow us on LinkedIn. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at BoardLeadTeam@causestrategypartners.com.

Application Questions

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THE BOARDLEAD APPLICATION?

Typically, it takes organizations 2 to 3 hours to complete the BoardLead application.

CAN I RECRUIT FOR BOTH A GOVERNING BOARD AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD?

Yes, an organization can recruit candidates for both their governing board and a young professionals board with a single application. You will be able to indicate this preference early on in the application process.

CAN I SAVE A DRAFT OF MY APPLICATION?

Yes - You are not required to complete this application in one sitting; each field will display a green check mark to indicate when the response has been successfully saved.

WILL I BE ABLE TO EDIT MY APPLICATION AFTER SUBMITTING IT?

You will be able to edit your application any time before you submit. To make changes after you submit your application, please reach out to the BoardLead team, as they will be able to make edits to your application if needed.

THE APPLICATION ASKS FOR DIRECTORS & OFFICERS INSURANCE. DO I NEED THIS?

Yes - Proof of active D&O insurance is a requirement for being considered a BoardLead nonprofit partner. If accepted to BoardLead, you will need to acquire this insurance, should your organization not already have it.

THE APPLICATION ASKS FOR INDEMNIFICATION LANGUAGE IN OUR BYLAWS. DO I NEED THIS?

Yes - BoardLead looks to see that your organization's bylaws include a provision indemnifying its directors and officers (i.e., board members) from liability that they may be exposed to because of their association with the organization. If accepted to BoardLead, you will need to amend your bylaws to include this provision, should your organization not already have it.

WHAT OTHER TIME COMMITMENTS ARE REQUIRED OF NONPROFITS OUTSIDE OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND CANDIDATE VETTING PROCESS?

Nonprofits selected as a BoardLead partner must attend BoardLead’s mandatory Kick-Off Webinar. If accepted, our team will share more about the timing of this session. This webinar shares more specifics about our program, including information to prepare you for your first meeting with candidates. Additionally, BoardLead partners agree to complete evaluations at the end of the matching period, as well as one and two years after they elect a board member through the program.

The BoardLead Nonprofit Network

WHAT IS THE BOARDLEAD NONPROFIT NETWORK?

The BoardLead Nonprofit Network is a group of over 1,000 nonprofit organizations and charities that have met the high standards for acceptance into the BoardLead program. Members of the network receive free and exclusive access to a wide variety of governance and leadership-related resources, including trainings, seminars, panel discussions, guides, and fireside chats. The Network also provides opportunities for members to build connections, share best practices, and learn from one another.

What resources are available through the BoardLead Nonprofit Network?

Network resources are focused on addressing some of the most pressing challenges that social good leaders face: from how to build more diverse and inclusive boardrooms to navigating the complex array of legal issues related to nonprofit and charity governance. Resources are available both live and asynchronously.

How do I join the BoardLead Nonprofit Network?

To join the Network, organizations must submit a successful application to the BoardLead matching and placement program. For further questions about the BoardLead Nonprofit Network, please reach out to Cambri Wright at cambri@causestrategypartners.com.