GUIDE FOR NAVIGATING boardnetUSA FOR INDIVIDUALS
AND KEY SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS

Print out this Guide for your use as you complete your profile and navigate boardnetUSA.  After printing, return to our home page to register and begin your application, using this Guide.

Completing your Online Profile at www.boardnetusa.org  is a critical component of connecting with a nonprofit board. They will assess your interest and commitment by the completeness of your profile.

While all aspects of your Online Profile are important, we consider thoughtful completion of the following four items to be most critical to success: 

  1. Personal Statement – what interests do you have in serving on a board; how you might like to contribute as a board member

  2. Work history – particularly your current position

  3. Skills and expertise

  4. Service interests

Step 1 – Log on to secure your User ID and Password 

Step 2 - Completing Your Online Profile 

To Complete Your Profile: 

1. Login to boardnetUSA and click on the My Profile button on the left side of the screen. 

2. boardnetUSA should prompt you to complete your profile at that point.  There are seven main sections to complete, from Personal Information down to Personal Statement.  After filling in the appropriate information for each section, click on the Update or Add button to move on to the next. 

3. To make changes or updates to your profile at any point in the future, simply login and click on My Profile, then click on the appropriate tab on the right side of your profile. Be sure to click Update once you have made the changes! 

General Considerations: 
The Skills and Interest section is key because skills are often what boards search for in the database.  If this section is not complete, your profile will not be visible in searches conducted by nonprofits. 

Another important section of the candidate profile is the Personal Statement, which is the last tab of your profile, and appears close to the top of your profile when viewed by nonprofits. Some questions you might consider answering in this section include:

  • Why do you want to serve on a board (in general)?

  •  What kind of nonprofit are you seeking? Large, small, what stage of growth?

  • What skills are you able to contribute? Would you prefer your work to be hands-on, policymaking, advocacy, etc?

  • What past volunteer or service experiences have led you to an interest in certain fields of the nonprofit sector?

Following is a sample Personal Statement: 
“I have a strong interest in serving on an environmental non-profit board. It is extremely important to me to do what I can to make a difference, especially by protecting and preserving the environment. I have extensive experience working with a performing arts non-profit board through my experience at the local arts center. I believe that the arts in our city greatly contribute to the high quality of life. I am energetic, hard-working, dedicated, and well-organized. These qualities will assist me in serving as an effective board member.” 

Remember: If you are seeking board membership and want organizations to see your profile, be sure to visit the Privacy Settings tab to flag your profile as accessible to all boards. Without this indicator, your profile will not be visible to seeking organizations.

A sample profile is available as a link on our home page. After you have completed your profile, compare it to the sample and complete items you overlooked.
  
 Step 3 - Finding a Nonprofit Board 

The initial contact with a nonprofit is often the most important. Contacting nonprofits directly through boardnetUSA is one way to initiate a conversation about board membership. Following are step-by-step instructions on searching for nonprofits on boardnetUSA: 

1. After logging in at www.boardnetUSA.org, select the Find a Board tab located on the left side of the screen. 

2. Select from the following search options: 

  • boardnetUSA Search – Search boardnetUSA’s database of nonprofits by name, city or zip code, and other specifications. This is the broadest and most flexible search function available. We recommend this option.  A helpful search method is to enter your zip code and a 50 mile radius when you search for nonprofits. To conduct a more focused search, select the Enhanced Search Form link at the bottom of the page.
     

  • boardnetUSA Profile Match – Match your profile with nonprofits in your local area. This method uses the desired skills and interests directly from your profile – you need not select manually from a list or characteristics. The results are categorized by the percentage of skills shared between the nonprofit’s needs and those listed in your profile.
     

  • boardnetUSA Search Agent – Set up an automated search agent that will comb through boardnetUSA’s database for nonprofits that match your requirements and email you the results every 3 days.

3. After viewing board openings and profiles from the results of your search, send compatible board openings to the My Boards folder by selecting the Add button located at the top right of the opening or on the initial results page to the right of the nonprofit’s listing. 

4. When you have completed your search session, click on the My Boards tab on the left side of the screen. There you can:

  • View the board openings you targeted in your search (Current Processes).

  • View former openings that are no longer available, because either you or the nonprofit responded as uninterested following initial communications (Expired Processes).

5. Click the Send icon on the right side of the screen to send inquiry emails to the selected nonprofits. You will be given the opportunity to compose a personal message relative to each board opening before the inquiry is sent. When drafting a message to a nonprofit through boardnetUSA, consider the following questions:

  • Why are you contacting this nonprofit? What items in the board opening or profile have led you to call on them? What skill-gaps do you feel you can help to fill?

  • Would you consider serving as a committee member before being elected to the board? Many boards are now using this technique to help candidates ease into board service.

  • How can the organization contact you if interested in learning more?

6. Notify Triangle BoardConnect (tbc@mindspring.com)  of your communications if you would like assistance in “prompting” the nonprofits you have contacted. Otherwise, wait for response emails from interested boards and be ready to get involved! 
 © 2006 NEW - BoardConnect® www.boardconnect.org

 Key Suggestions for Success

  • Be as responsive as possible in completing your personal profile.  Your thoroughness reflects a lot about your commitment to this process.

  • Be responsive in a timely manner to inquiries of interest from nonprofit boards.  If you have an interest, a timely response gets the prospective relationship off to a good start.  If you don’t have an interest, it is only fair to let them know.

  • We strongly encourage you to review all new opportunities posted by nonprofit boards at least every 2-4 weeks.  Nonprofits are posting new opportunities every week, and timely responses begin a great relationship.

  • Let us know when you have a successful match.  Your success is our success!