Why Not-For-Profits Are Not For Me
If you've ever considered getting involved with a nonprofit organization, I think you'll find this enlightening, if not sadistically amusing.
I recently sat in on a board meeting of a nonprofit organization in the Bay Area. I had randomly come across the organization, liked what they were about, and asked how I could help. After meeting with the executive director and chatting with the board president, I agreed to attend a board meeting to get a feel for how things worked. That, was a good thing.
Before I go any further, let me say this: this is a fabulous organization that does great things, is impeccably well managed, has a truly capable and driven executive director, and all that good stuff. Seriously.
Herding Cats
While every attempt was made to run an organized and productive board meeting, it didn't happen that way. Herding cats doesn't begin to describe it. Someone would just chime in with a non sequitur, bring up something entirely orthogonal to the discussion, or go on a rant for a few minutes. Just when my head started to explode, the meeting ended.
The problem I think is threefold:
- Nonprofit boards tend to be fairly large, since they can't afford to actually hire senior level people to take on executive functions and initiatives, and directors serve the dual function of networking on the fundraising side.
- There are folks who are simply not savvy to the way meetings are and should be run, and nobody has the time or will to teach them.
- Some people have a personal agenda or just like to hear themselves talk.
So, not-for-profit boards are probably not the place for me. I won't rule it out entirely based solely on one experience, but at least my eyes are open to the difficult challenges these surprisingly selfless and patient folks face.
Does any of this resonate with your nonprofit experience, or is this an anomaly?
Also, if you're looking into it, here are two sources I found interesting during my research:
Is the Nonprofit World for Everyone? by Jay Love, CEO of eTapestry, a company that provides software-based tools and services to the nonprofit world.
Nonprofits? Not a Recessionary Refuge for Job Seekers by Nancy Lublin, CEO of the not-for-profit Do Something.