About BoardConnect

Our Mission | Our Philosophy | Collaborating Agencies | Our Funders | Frequent Asked Questions

Our Mission

The mission of BoardConnect^® is to strengthen our community by building the leadership skills of community members and connecting them with nonprofit boards, matching them with one another for maximum community impact.

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Our Philosophy

At BoardConnect^®, we believe training and matching go hand in hand. Individuals need to know their roles and responsibilities to be effective board members, and nonprofits need to plan carefully to build their boards. BoardConnect^® offers two separate training sessions: Serving on a Nonprofit Board, for individuals interested in board service, and Building Your Board, for nonprofit staff and board members seeking to add new members. Following the training sessions, BoardConnect^® staff members help connect individuals and nonprofits with similar service interests using a combination of online matching tools and personal phone call and email contacts.

For individuals who want to serve a nonprofit in their community, BoardConnect^® training addresses the roles and responsibilities of a board member, including board operations, strategic planning, resource development, oversight, and ambassadorship. The training also familiarizes participants with convenient online tools to match them with nonprofits seeking new members, and BoardConnect^® staff members provide additional support connecting individuals with the nonprofits they are most interested in serving.

For nonprofits seeking new trustees, BoardConnect^® emphasizes a year-round planning process. The training introduces several simple methods to identify an organization's most promising opportunities for board member recruitment, and then provides information on how to orient and engage the right individuals so they become dedicated and proactive leaders. BoardConnect^® staff members also provide additional matching support, including candidate searches and contacts, for a modest annual fee.

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Collaborating Agencies

BoardConnect^® was launched by NEW in 2000 for Washtenaw County, and is now expanding to other communities in Michigan through close collaboration with:

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Our Funders

BoardConnect is made possible through the strong financial support of:

The Power Foundation
Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan
Comerica Bank
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
McGregor Fund

These generous organizations have demonstrated a strong commitment to the Michigan nonprofit community through their financial investment in BoardConnect^®.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who operates BoardConnect?
A: BoardConnect^® is a program developed by NEW (Nonprofit Enterprise at Work) with offices in Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan. BoardConnect^® is operated by NEW in Washtenaw County, and by NEW in collaboration with the Detroit Regional Chamber and the Michigan Nonprofit Association in the metropolitan Detroit area. The program is operated in other parts of Michigan in collaboration with local nonprofit service providers in Traverse City and Marquette and in the Greater Triangle area in North Carolina.

Q:What is the difference between BoardConnect^® and boardnetUSA?
A: BoardConnect^® is the training and matching program operated by NEW and its collaborators boardnetUSA is a free national online database that helps match candidates interested in board service with nonprofits seeking board members.

Q:Why is the training necessary?
A: BoardConnect^® is based on the premise that training and matching go hand in hand. Individuals need to know their roles and responsibilities to be effective board members, and nonprofits need to plan carefully to build their boards. BoardConnect^® offers two separate training sessions: "Serving on a Nonprofit Board," for individuals interested in board service, and "Building Your Board," for nonprofit staff and board members seeking to add new members.

Q:Can you assign individuals to boards?
A: Although BoardConnect^® requires all board candidates to attend training on nonprofit board roles and responsibilities, we rely on nonprofit organizations to screen individual candidates for their suitability for board service. Therefore, we do not assign individuals to specific boards.

Q:How much does it cost to participate?
A: Prices may vary depending on your geographic area. If you are an individual interested in board service, you can view a list of training dates, times, locations, and costs. If you are a nonprofit interested in recruiting new members, you can learn more about BoardConnect^®'s services, including price.

Q:How often do you match individuals with boards?
A: The number of matches made in each year varies depending on an individual's interests and a nonprofit board's needs. In general, a candidate can usually expect to be matched with a nonprofit (or at least contacted about a potential board position) once in a calendar year. A nonprofit can usually expect one or two matches in a calendar year.

Q: What if BoardConnect is not available in my area?
A: Individuals and nonprofits interested in pursuing board matches on their own can register on www.boardnetusa.org, a free national online database providing information on nonprofits seeking board members and individuals seeking a board seat. For information on bringing BoardConnect® to your community, call NEW at (734) 998-0160, x 230.

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