Supporting a 501c3 - Why you should join a non-profit board

I am fortunate to be on the board of a local 501c3 called Vault1031 Culture and Community that is located in the SoBro (South Broadway),Limerick neighborhood in Old Louisville.  I've been on the board since November of 2014, when I was approached by an old friend from my college days to join.  I'd like to share a little of the journey and hopefully encourage someone to take the step and become a board member for a non-profit.

My career path started with a company that encouraged giving your time, talent and treasure. 

• Time was set aside several times a year to support projects that where both company funded as well as those that were relevant only to an individual.  Time off was not only given, it was enthusiastically given and encouraged.  All I need to do was ask.  I've participated in working to get a building completely repainted; picnic tables built, tree's planted, bathrooms scrubbed and the list goes on and on.   
• Talent was a little sketchy unless you are good with a hammer and a paint brush.  But after a full day of working alongside people skilled and not so skilled you got the hang of it and you thrive.  By the end of the day, your work was there before you and the deep satisfaction of knowing you did something really good!  
• Treasure was delivered in the way of generous matching funds to charitable organizations.  Not all companies can do this, but it's terrific when you get to work for one that does.  I once had a CEO that helped deliver on a fundraising campaign by matching money being raised for a local organization just to get us over the top.  One of our co-workers agreed to shave his EPIC beard if we raised $1000.  We raised $500 and $500 was matched.  We did it, he did it and a local homeless shelter received extra funds they never knew they would have. 

So, when Jon approached me to join the board of Vaul1031 then followed up by requesting that I become board president, it was new and scary and completely out of my realm of understanding of how to function on a board.  Much less lead it.  I was used to the kind of support that was company driven.  Other people thought of the ideas, and the rest of us showed up to paint, and hammer and scrub. 

My first thought was "not on your life".  I really didn't want to be responsible for sinking a 501c3.  But as I became more involved and had the chance to see the positive impact of what a board can do for a non-profit, I was hooked.  It comes back to Time, Treasure and Talent.  And a ton of "sweat equity".  I learn every day. 

Just to give you an example on what you can do by supporting a 501c3 as a board member:  Our board is working hard to make Vault1031 Culture and Community live up to its mission of bringing the arts into a neighborhood that might never have the chance.  Just recently we've launched a Power2Give campaign called Dessert Theatre.  https://www.power2give.org/kentucky/Project/Detail?projectId=9126

Kids that may never have had the opportunity, are now learning how to sing, dance and perform.  And icing on the cake?  Their hard work will culminate in a performance for seniors from the neighborhood's local facilities followed up by dessert from a local business, Coco's Cakes.  All funding and support is driven by a small board working with a neighborhood community. It hasn't been easy, but Dessert Theatre grows every day. And with continued community support it will continue to grow and expand. 

If you have the opportunity to join a board, you really should.  The job is tough sometimes, but can be incredibly fulfilling and you get to meet a variety of people that you wouldn't have the opportunity to meet if you weren't on a board.  It will also stretch you in ways you never thought imaginable.  But the key is to work at it.  Don't sit back.  Be an active participant.  Non-profits need your help. So find a small one, one that needs your time and talent. One that you can give the best treasure you can possibly give, yourself.