How do I apply or be asked to be on a board of directors?

15 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 1:43PM UTC

   Do you know anyone in your company or elsewhere who is a board member? If so, you could ask them how they did it. My previous company actually asked people if they were interested in being on boards and had a resource who could help with that, but not everyone does this.

2. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 1:46PM UTC

   Yes, networking with other professionals.
   I would join key professional organizations, chamber of commerce and volunteer in your business community. All of my board seats have been offered as a result of volunteer chatity committees in my business network. I sit on the board of a NP Hospital, a woman's shelter and an animal shelter. I have sat on boards of Energy companies, Housing projects and Parks & Recreation funding groups.

3. AnonymousSeptember 13,2023 at 2:07PM UTC

   Just curious- are any of these paid positions? I understand those are difficult to find.

   Regardless if paid or not your list of board seats is impressive!

4. AnonymousSeptember 13,2023 at 4:19PM UTC

   Board members are usually paid a stipend (usually enough to incentivize) and shares of stock or options.

5. AnonymousSeptember 13,2023 at 4:23PM UTC

   Yes, I've been paid for my time to sit on the boards I've been involved with and early on sat on a board for a startup that ended up going public. I made enough on my shares to put a nice down payment down for my current house. I sat on that board for 8 years.

6. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 4:12PM UTC

   Board seats are usually not applied for. They are recruited or offered based on knowledge, expertise, reputation and agency. Being well connected and having a great name earns professionals cache and the business community and individual industries are small and everyone talks.

7. AnonymousSeptember 13,2023 at 12:26PM UTC

   Do you currently or have you held a c-suite position at a bank or credit union? If not then start building that career track.

8. AnonymousSeptember 14,2023 at 10:16AM UTC

   Most credit union boards are made up of the credit union members. Committee members may be reached out to by the credit union c-suite, but the primary board is typically voted in at their annual meeting. Additionally, these are typically volunteer positions.

9. AnonymousSeptember 14,2023 at 12:34PM UTC

   I have sat on a board for a non-profit, which is a volunteer position by law. Some staff members will sit on executive committees or serve as board advisors in paid jobs, but they have no voting privileges and cannot attend "closed sessions" unless asked to present in one. In the for-profit world, board members are allowed to be compensated. Most receive a[an additional] stipend through stock options, travel expense reimbursement, or other allowances.

   As far as an application, very few advertise or post for board positions, as they are "recruited" generally through membership in the organization, client, or regional representation. I know I have seen a couple of solicitations on LinkedIn, so you may want to put "Board of Directors" into a job search.

10. AnonymousSeptember 14,2023 at 12:40PM UTC

    Check with a local credit union. I'm on a supervisory committee and applied for the position when they were advertising looking for supervisory committee members. It's been a great learning experience and met a lot of people who are interested in the community. I do get a stipend and mileage.

11. AnonymousSeptember 14,2023 at 12:53PM UTC

    I’ve come across a site called Board Assist. I haven’t had time to check it out fully but I plan on looking on there for board opportunities.

12. AnonymousSeptember 14,2023 at 2:33PM UTC

    Thanks, I'll give it a try

13. AnonymousSeptember 14,2023 at 8:23PM UTC

    Don't want to be pessimistic, but don't waste your time with Board Assist. It's a service that YOU pay for them to find you a board seat TO APPLY FOR and the offerings are slim. For example, I have nearly 20 years of biotechnology/life sciences experience and serve as a Snr Director in my firm - my board offerings were 1. for a pillow company that focuses on sweat reduction, 2. a soap company that was hoping to break into the kiddie market, and 3. a dog sweater company that was pursing natural fibers. As you can see - none of those resonate with my experience or expertise. I would advise to proceed with caution.

14. Joann S. LublinSeptember 14,2023 at 12:56PM UTC

    You should ask your employer to pay for your attendance at a board "boot camp" hosted by variety of women's organizations to prepare individuals for board seats -- and teach them how to pursue a directorship. Among other things, boards expect a different type of resume than what you would prepare for a full-time job search. Also suggest you read "Beating Board Bias" chapter in my 2016 book, "Earning It: Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women at the Top of the Business World." It has some good tips about getting and leveraging a nonprofit board seat to win a director's spot at a company. Good luck!

15. Shelby CSeptember 14,2023 at 1:18PM UTC

    I would start with a NPO that could benefit from your experience and supports a mission that you care about. I simply called the Executive Director and told her that I was interested in serving, their cause is close to my heart, and I would love to volunteer my experience on their board.