How to Recruit the Right Board Members and Build a Culture of Belonging

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, host Amy Eisenstein is joined by nationally recognized nonprofit consultant Christal Cherry, known to many as “The Board Pro,” to talk about one of the biggest challenges for nonprofit leaders: how to find and keep the right board members.

With more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Christal has helped hundreds of organizations rethink board service by focusing on purpose, inclusion, and long-term commitment. In this candid conversation, Christal shares practical, experience-based strategies for board recruitment, onboarding, and engagement that go far beyond the usual advice about fundraising potential or "big pockets."

This episode has answers if you’ve ever wondered:

• What makes someone the “right” board member for your organization?
• Why lived experience and community representation are just as valuable as fundraising capacity?
• How to plan ahead so your board reflects your future, not just your present?
• What a diverse and inclusive board culture looks like in real life?
• How to remove unengaged board members and make space for fresh energy?

Amy and Christal explore how to build a board matrix based on your actual needs and values rather than a generic template. They talk about how to assess skill gaps, governance expertise, and lived experience. You’ll hear why recruiting "another Kevin" is often a mistake and why the best question to ask is, "Who is missing?"

Christal also shares smart strategies for organizations with limited staff or budget, including:

• How to use LinkedIn and other tools to identify strong candidates
• A “roll and scroll” phone exercise to activate your board’s networks
• Low-cost ways to build an inclusive board culture, like DEI calendars, peer mentors, and shared meals
• The importance of onboarding that goes beyond a binder or slide deck

You’ll also learn how to keep board members engaged between meetings. Christal shares examples of “board bites,” or mini-trainings on governance or fundraising, and ideas to connect board members to programs and events in a hands-on way.

Finally, the conversation turns to culture. It’s not enough to invite diverse candidates if your boardroom dynamics, expectations, or meeting times haven’t changed. Christal explains what it means to prepare your organization for inclusion, including how to rethink time commitments, accessibility, and the unspoken norms that might be keeping new voices out.

Whether you’re preparing for a capital campaign, growing your board, or trying to strengthen governance, this episode is full of advice you can put to work right away.

Topics covered:

• Defining the right board member for your unique mission
• Common board recruitment mistakes and how to avoid them
• How to balance fundraising with lived experience
• Building a skills-based board matrix
• Onboarding new members in meaningful ways
• Creating a culture of belonging with limited resources
• Removing inactive or unengaged board members

Learn more about Christal Cherry at www.theboardpro.com, including tools and resources for recruitment and engagement

For more board engagement tips, be sure to download our free Board Member’s Guide to Capital Campaign Fundraising. It answers the questions board members most frequently ask, or wish they could ask.