Serving on a Board

What do boards do?

Community groups/rōpū come in all shapes and sizes. Some are large organisations with diverse memberships, while others have a more specialised focus and a smaller membership base. They span a wide range of causes and interests, including sport, the arts, advocacy, disability support, multicultural communities, women’s initiatives, animal welfare, and more.

Regardless of their size or purpose, every community organisation needs a dedicated committee or board to provide effective governance. Governance is the big-picture leadership of an organisation. It involves setting the strategic direction, ensuring the organisation delivers on its purpose, managing risk, and safeguarding its long-term sustainability. The dedication and skills of governance volunteers are crucial for the sustainability and success of our community organisations.

For people interested in serving on a board, finding the right fit is important. A good match between a board member’s skills, interests, and values and the organisation’s mission can lead to a more rewarding governance experience and contribute to stronger outcomes for the organisation. 

 

Is Board Service Right for You?

Serving on a board can be a rewarding way to support a cause you care about, share your skills, and contribute to your community. However, it is also a significant commitment that requires time, public accountability, preparation, high levels of responsibility, and compliance with regulations.

Before joining a board, take some time to consider your motivations and what you hope to gain from the experience. Understanding your goals will help you find an organisation that is a good fit for your interests, skills, and availability.

Ask yourself what you want out of it:

• Do you want a hands-on practical role or a more bird’s eye strategic role?
• Do you want to expand your existing skills or develop new skills that could help in your career?
• Do you want to deepen an existing interest or explore a new area?
• Do you want to learn more about a particular cause or issue?
• Do you want to help drive change or solve a specific problem?
• Do you want to make connections and expand your professional networks?
• Do you want to meet new people and build connections?
• Do you want to make a difference to the lives of people facing challenges or barriers?

 

The clearer you are about your motivations, the more likely you are to find a board role that is rewarding for both you and the organisation.

 

Finding the Right Fit

• Match your interests: Look at groups you already interact with – your child’s kindergarten/kura/school, a local sports club, an environmental group in your neighbourhood, a group that helps your elderly parents. Practically every community organisation has a committee overseeing its activities, and most welcome an extra set of hands or an extra voice.

• Consider the stage of the organisation: A newly formed group will have start-up challenges (writing policies, setting direction, hiring staff), which can be time-consuming but highly rewarding. Long-established groups may have tried-and-true processes – unless they are undergoing a restructure. Getting involved in a new or transitional group can pay huge dividends as you contribute to the building of something special. While challenging, these groups can offer a greater sense of achievement than would be obtained by overseeing a group that is humming away happily, if that is what you want.

• Think about board size: Consider how much responsibility you are willing to take on. Smaller boards mean sharing more operational tasks, while larger boards might offer a lighter workload but can be trickier to coordinate (e.g. finding a meeting time), and are often more complicated, dealing with greater budgets.

• Identify where you can add value: The most useful board member is one who fills an unmet need. Think about your unique talents, qualifications and passions – whether it is budget management, communications, fundraising, or industry connections – and look for a group that needs that specific expertise.

 

💡 Tip: Don’t confine your search to just one group. Not all boards have vacancies at the same time, and it takes time to find the perfect fit.

 

Benefits of Volunteering on Boards

Volunteering your time for a not-for-profit board has fantastic personal benefits, while giving back to the hapori/community.

Here’s why getting involved in a board role could be one of the most rewarding steps in your personal and professional journey:

1. Gain Practical Experience
   Understand board operations, governance, finances, and problem-solving – all while growing your strategic thinking and leadership capabilities.

2. Strengthen Your Leadership and Professional Skills
   Apply your existing skills in a new context and grow in areas like strategic thinking, communication, financial oversight, and decision-making. A board role is a practical way to develop as a leader.

3. Expand Your Professional Network
   Board work brings you into contact with passionate, skilled people from a wide range of backgrounds. It’s a unique opportunity to build relationships, collaborate across sectors, and exchange fresh ideas that benefit both your personal growth and professional work.

4. See Things Differently
   Exposure to diverse challenges and viewpoints enhances both personal and professional growth.

5. Build a Portfolio Career
   Use board experience as a stepping stone to other governance roles, including paid board roles.

6. Give Back with Purpose
   Make a real difference to your community and support causes you care about.

7. Influence Positive Change
   Help shape the future direction of an organisation and contribute to better outcomes for your community.

8. Learn the Art of Fundraising
   Build confidence in storytelling and asking for funding, essential skills in the not-for-profit world.

9. Boost Your Reputation
   Show your commitment to social responsibility and lifelong learning by adding board work to your CV.

10. Open New Career Doors
    Whether you’re pivoting sectors or exploring new directions, board experience can open unexpected opportunities.

 

What Is Expected of Board Members?

Board members are responsible for governance rather than day-to-day operations. Typical responsibilities include:

• Attending board meetings
• Reading meeting papers and preparing in advance
• Contributing to strategic planning and decision-making
• Monitoring finances and organisational performance
• Supporting fundraising and advocacy where appropriate
• Acting in the best interests of the organisation

 

Board Vacancies

Looking for a Board Role?

We can help you find current vacancies. Many Bay of Plenty opportunities are advertised through our Volunteering Services’ Seek Volunteer platform, and in our fortnightly pānui/newsletter (sign up here).