If you’ve ever adopted an animal, gone to a free concert, given blood, or given a financial donation, chances are you were engaging with a nonprofit.

Nonprofits do amazing work, and just as important as the work you can see is the work done behind the scenes. Every nonprofit has a board of directors, which helps run the organization. In fact, Wisconsin law states every nonprofit must have a board of at least three members.

Gina Moon

Gina Moon and Nichole Kuss started working behind the scenes for The Community Blood Center as finance committee members about a year ago and are now board members.

Gina and Nichole used Nonprofit Leadership Initiative’s Board Connect to find nonprofit committee work that aligned with their interests. Board Connect is a free online resource helping community members find volunteer leadership opportunities posted by local nonprofits. There are currently 87 opportunities for board, committee and task force service listed on the site.

“I was pursuing a fellowship, so I was looking for volunteer positions that connected to my current work as well as something I could put my talents to use right away,” Gina shared. “Board Connect made it easy for me to find available opportunities and when I read the Community Blood Center’s posting, their mission resonated with me.”

Nichole Kuss

Nichole commented, “I was looking for a way to give back that aligned with my passions. I felt connected to the Community Blood Center because of family experiences, and I knew with my public accounting background, I could contribute to the finance committee. I’m also passionate about animals, so I joined the Neenah Animal Shelter board too, and I was able to help them with their audit.”

Growing their network, making connections, and learning from their fellow board and committee members are bonuses both Gina and Nichole mentioned. They also value the education they’re receiving. “Personally, I’m learning so much about the organization and the decisions, process and procedures nonprofits go through as they strive to meet their mission,” Gina said.

“Nonprofits that are well-led have greater mission success. Effective board and committee members are a critical part of a nonprofit’s leadership team and instrumental in their success,” Matt Lyons, Community Blood Center Vice President of Finance said. “Gina and Nichole have been an asset to our Finance Committee, and now our board. Their expertise in finance and diverse perspectives have spurred good conversations and challenged the status quo of our work. I’ve been able to leverage their knowledge to help me get better outcomes on projects.”

Over 90 nonprofits are listed on Board Connect. Browse their openings and find an opportunity that aligns with your passion and skill set. Board Connect.

Annette Look, NPLI Program Manager

The Nonprofit Leadership Initiative within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region 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. Since its inception in 2015, NPLI has offered 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 region.