RECRUITING AND ONBOARDING NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Thursday, October 28, 2026, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Nonprofit boards are ultimately only as effective and helpful as the people who serve on them. This session looks at the internal work and preparation needed to successfully prepare for, recruit, and onboard new board members. We will cover creating a process that will assist you in getting the right people on your board, including free and low-cost ways to find new board members with the skills, experience and connections you need. Then we will discuss onboarding, to make sure the new members hit the ground running when they join, and how onboarding can be effective in helping you retain these new members.

This session will be led by BoardStrong Director Barbara Paxton. BoardStrong is a nonprofit organization that works nationwide to advance the nonprofit sector and the impact of the work nonprofits do by supporting the achievement of the highest standards of board leadership, governance and oversight. Barbara has more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofits and has broad experience in board leadership, board development and governance, fundraising and finance. Barbara is a widely sought-after speaker and presenter and has worked with nonprofit organizations in multiple states. Barbara earned a B.A. at Wellesley College and a Master of International Affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.