Why join a Non-Profit Board? A Guest Blog by one of our Board Members

Why join a Non-Profit Board? Be fantastic, find your crew, meet the challenge & be the impact

By Christina Ameln – Global Girl Project, Board of Trustees

 There are many reasons to say no: the challenges are too big, we might not make the impact we want to, and you’re very busy.  So why does anyone join a non-profit Board? 

Let me start by revealing my bias: I am a proud member of the Board of Trustees for Global Girl Project, an amazing organisation that works to mobilise girls worldwide.  So, bear with me as I share my own choice and motivations to support good causes.

Be fantastic

We all have special gifts - talents that can and should be shared with our communities. With your skills, you can give back to your community in multiple and sometimes surprising ways. It does not have to be a role with a title; you can find different ways small and big to engage with your community from donating to volunteering to mentoring.

We all self-reflect on what we can bring.  I often wonder whether my skills, background and contribution are enough or if they will bring much-needed value to the cause.

But remember, each one of us is fantastic in our unique way.  Organisations are looking for this uniqueness, which might be invaluable to their work. Besides, Board engagement is a two-way street. Sometimes we give as much as we get.

This is one of the key reasons I joined the Global Girl Project Board of Trustees, I had a sense that my unique set of skills in sustainability and social impact could make a difference – to this organisation at this point in time. This is my opportunity to give back to the community and support a cause.

In this case, I feel strongly about the mission of Global Girl Project, which is to mobilise girls as leaders and changemakers in the Global South, and encourage confidence and self-worth.  Global Girl Project ensures that these attributes are reinforced and become stepping stones for the pursuit of other leadership activities.

Find your crew

We have all been in situations where we feel we do not fit in. Not all organisations are meant for you so it is important to find your “crew” – an organisation in whose mission you believe and where you will thrive, build, guide, shape and co-create “the change you want to see in the world.”.

This is my second gig as a board member. I have discovered that finding ‘a crew’ can take many forms. You can actively look for the organisation that is a good match, find it in a job posting, be invited to join or be recommended. And note that organisations come in different sizes, with impact at local or international levels.  There are all these constellations out there for you to find.

With Global Girl Project, I was recommended by a friend (who is part of Global Girl Project’s volunteer initiative) to chat with the executive director Julia Lynch and then-Chair Stella McKenna. And yes, the initial conversations might feel a bit like dating as you start to get to know each other and see if it is a match on both sides.

For me, it is important that I bring value to the organisation, my contribution makes a difference, our missions align and I am involved in tackling challenging topics. At this stage in my life, I also feel that being part of a smaller, entrepreneurial and growing organisation is where I can bring the most value and impact.

I believe that, for Julia and Stella, it was important to enrich the board with a specific skill set that would complement the other board members. They felt that I believed in Global Girl Project’s work and yes, we would also get along with each other.

Knowing something about the other members of the crew is also important. In my case, I joined a ‘crew’ of board members made up of strong, professional, intelligent and intuitive women from all corners of the world (we sit in Cambodia, Dubai, Vietnam, United Kingdom, etc). These global voices also ensure that viewpoints from around the world are reflected in the conversations and decision-making.  

And I want to underscore that it is an honour to be part of this network and group of changemakers. I learn from my interactions with each of them.

The Global Girl Project Board and Team meeting in London, Summer 2022. From L-R: Stella McKenna (then Chair); Hannah White-Steele (Programme Manager); Julia Lynch (Founding Director); Zyanya Bejarano (then Board Member, on Zoom); Tina Chugani (Board Member); Evette Franklin (Secretary); Rachna Patel (Treasurer); Christina Ameln (Board Member and Author).

Meet the challenge

Of course, there are challenges along the way. That is only natural when you bring a group of strong people together to discuss complex problems and solutions. Change is a messy process.

Board responsibilities include anticipating the external factors that might influence the direction of the organisation. Fundraising will always be a challenge – you cannot escape that whatever the size of the organisation. Other challenges include communicating across time differences, language, culture and location. A key personal challenge will always be time management and balancing board expectations with personal and professional ones.

To meet these challenges is to identify them, reflect on them and identify solutions that are right for you. It is about building movement forward.

It is also important to take a long, broad view. A broader viewpoint is more likely to meet the challenge and bring much needed perspective.

In my case, Global Girl Project’s mission is both personally and professionally compelling. It aims to create that positive impact on girls in the Global South and build a new generation of women leaders, within families, communities and nations.  

The mission always wins.

Be the impact

It is also easy to feel removed from global issues or problems. Sometimes you ask yourself: What real difference can I make?

Don’t be fooled by the distance. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that we are all interconnected. Positive inputs also have an amazing ripple effect. We can all lead with our actions small and big.

As we move into 2023, GGP’s new year’s resolution is to increase its impact. It seeks to create that together with its stakeholders of individuals, corporates and organisations so as to continue to empower that change in girls.

As Shree from India writes in More Than Voice, A Collection of Stories by Global Girl Project, “What matters is being leaders and creating leaders around us”.

I am grateful that I am part of Global Girl Project, creating a world in which all girls can thrive.  I wish you all a Happy New Year.

“Changing our world starts with a girl.”

 

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