Nonprofit Board Matching

Do you want to serve on a nonprofit board, but aren’t sure where to start? Or maybe you’re a member of a corporate leadership team who wants to engage your employees in meaningful nonprofit volunteer opportunities.

Nonprofit board service is a great way to apply professional and personal experience to benefit the local community, while networking and developing relationships with peers. Launched in 2021, the MetroWest Nonprofit Board Matching Program was designed to help strengthen our region by matching engaged corporate leaders and rising stars with nonprofit board opportunities in the MetroWest region.

How It Works

Program Goals

Strengthen our region by increasing the number of residents that serve on nonprofit boards
Leverage our role as the philanthropy hub and connector for individuals, corporations, and nonprofit organizations for the benefit of the MetroWest community
Engage corporate partners to identify key employees who want to make a difference in the community; or identify those employees the corporate partner would like to see engage in additional leadership opportunities
Respond to the need in the nonprofit sector for talented, diverse, engaged board members

Our Method

Presenting high-quality education through partnerships with leading industry experts in fundraising, governance, and non-profit finance through a six session training program
Detailed matching process that respects the interests of the individuals as well as the needs of nonprofit organizations and the corporate partner
Individuals will participate in a philanthropic roadmap exercise that helps them identify cause areas that align with their interests
Ongoing support that tracks with nonprofit annual cycles

2023-2024 Schedule

June - July

Corporate partners and individuals identified/surveyed

Include individual survey to understand interests; ability for individual to participate in exercises that help them determine interests Early July: Launch application process for nonprofit partners

August

Nonprofit application due

September - December

Program begins (6 Cohort Learning Sessions)

October - February

Individuals will meet with nonprofit organizations to determine best match/placement

February - June

One-on-one support for each individual as needed

Time Commitment

Individuals should expect to commit 4-6 hours per month from September to February. The educational component of the program will be held virtually and recorded. All recordings and documents will be housed on an internal web page accessible to participants.

We know our Bowditch & Dewey community is rich with talented individuals ready and willing to serve on nonprofit boards, but we found that many of these individuals did not know where to connect with organizations whose mission and needs aligned with their personal values and skills. Participants not only feel more prepared to take on board leadership roles because of the in-depth curriculum, but they have built personal connections through the Foundation’s program, leading to great matches and meaningful commitments.

Program Participants Have Been Matched at the Following MetroWest Nonprofits