By Annette Look, program manager, Nonprofit Leadership Initiative

What do diapers, wigs and the Miles for Myeloma Walk/Run have in common?

All three are connected in some way to a Fox Valley nonprofit that will be taking part in the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative (NPLI)’s upcoming Join a Board event on April 18.

Volunteering on a board is a wonderful way to give back to your community, but you can also gain professional development skills by taking a leadership role with a nonprofit. Board and committee work strengthens the ability to work collaboratively, develop leadership experience, and gain a better understanding of organizational dynamics.

Jake’s Diapers provides diapers for those in need, Peaceful Purpose provides wigs for those dealing with hair loss due to illness, and Miles for Myeloma Walk/Run is an event run by Mission Myeloma. These three nonprofits along with 12 others will have representatives at the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative’s Join a Board event April 18, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Fox Club in Timber Rattlers Stadium.

Join a Board events are open to adults wanting to learn about leadership-level volunteer opportunities with a local nonprofit.

Rainbow Over Wisconsin hosted a booth at a recent “Join a Board” event

At this free event, community members enjoy appetizers and a complimentary bar in a fun atmosphere, while having the opportunity to interact with 15 different nonprofits. Many times attendees learn about nonprofits they didn’t know existed and are pleased to find alignment with something they are passionate about.

“I decided to attend Join a Board and see who was looking for board members,” says Walt Zerrenner, who attended a recent event. “Being a Marine Corps Veteran, I was drawn to the Fox Valley Veterans Council. I spent an hour with their representatives and I was convinced that it was the right fit for me and for them. I did meet with other organizations as well. Two months later I joined the Fox Valley Veterans Council Board and two months after that I was asked to serve as Vice Chair of the Board.”

Without the Join a Board event, Zerrenner says that this opportunity would not have happened.

“I would encourage anyone interested in joining a board to attend Join a Board and learn more about the different organization’s mission and goals,“ he says.

You can register for Join a Board and learn more about the nonprofits attending HERE.

The Nonprofit Leadership Initiative is a partnership of Fox Valley-area nonprofits, funders, educational institutions and businesses dedicated to providing resources needed by effective nonprofit boards and executive leaders. NPLI offers a wide range of leadership, management and technical skill-building programs, as well as peer learning circles, to the entire nonprofit sector in the Fox Valley.

We support the NPLI with a grant from the Bright Idea Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, one among many community partners supporting NPLI. Click here to learn more.