Half of Board Chairs Say They Did Nothing to Prepare for Role, Report Says

Title: “Voices of Board Chairs: A National Study on the Perspectives of Nonprofit Board Chairs”

Organization: Alliance for Nonprofit Management

Summary: More than half of 635 nonprofit board chairs reported that they did nothing specific to prepare before stepping into their roles, and slightly more than that said they had served on their boards for three years or less before assuming the leadership role — giving them limited time to gain experience, according to the report.

Only 19 percent of respondents to the survey reported that “becoming a chair was a natural progression,” and some responses seemed to show that many were given the leadership position following unexpected circumstances — like an unforeseen resignation or the illness of a trustee who had been expected fill that role. Others said they were the lone trustee who was willing to serve as chair, the report says.

The online survey gathered responses mostly from U.S. board chairs at local, regional, and national nonprofits with various missions from 42 states, although 22 chairs said their organizations’ headquarters were based outside of the United States.

Among other recommendations, the report says, nonprofits should provide mentoring and leadership-development opportunities to groom board chairs. The report also calls for helping chairs connect with supporters, noting that only 30 percent of respondents said that they frequently met with current or potential donors and 55 percent saying they sometimes did.

Among the findings:

• Some 63 percent of board chairs surveyed had been in the position for only two years or less.
• Committee chair was the most common leadership position held before people assumed the chairmanship, with 65 percent saying they had held that role at their current nonprofit.
• Forty-eight percent said they had served as vice chairs at their organizations before ascending to the top spot.
• Forty-six percent reported that they currently served on only one nonprofit board, while 28 percent said they served on two boards, 15 percent on three boards, and 10 percent on more than three boards.
• Some 70 percent of board chairs reported that “observing the prior board chair” was “helpful” or “very helpful” in getting them ready for the position. Half of the respondents said asking the former chair for advice was helpful or very helpful.