The Value of NGO Board Service for Business Executives, Nonprofits, and Communities

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Given the scope, impact, and interconnectedness of global challenges, some business people appreciate the opportunity for cross-sector learning and engagement by serving on nonprofit boards. In quarterly discussions with business and NGO leaders, that I convened with my friend and colleague Olufunmilayo Arewa , participants shared approaches to advance #DEI, become effective board members #CorpGov, and address vital issues such as #racialequity #genderequity #climatechange #humanrights, and access to #healthcare and #education. Themes of particular interest included:

·????? The value of nonprofit board service to gain a deeper understanding of issues that are as relevant to their companies as they are to society – issues like food security, global migration, and economic development.

·????? The imperative for nonprofit boards to become diverse, equitable, and inclusive in order to understand the extent to which racial equity and justice are fundamental to achieve nonprofit missions, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (#SDGs). See report here.

??? “My work on nonprofit boards informs my work in the business sector as well as my academic engagements. Each experience relates to the other,” explains Luciana Aquino-Hagedorn . As an attorney, investor, and asset manager, her contributions are a mix of legal, governance, and policy. Aquino-Hagedorn serves on two global NGOs, where she was matched by our organization: Landesa, an organization that promotes stronger rights for land, and at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) , where she serves as Vice Chair. She is the General Counsel of NCX, a US forest carbon developer and on the board of Qarlboro Nature Capital AB,? a natural capital investment company and asset manager. She is a lecturer at Boston University School of Law and a Senior Fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Sustainable Investment. “For me, nonprofit board service is essential. It helps me understand how nonprofits address issues, and that helps inform how for-profits can advance progress.” Aquino-Hagedorn also appreciates learning from observing different styles of leadership, governance, management, strategic decision-making, and finance.

??? Venkata Kishore is Vice President, and Global Head of Vegetable Seeds, Smallholders, and Sustainability at Bayer | Crop Science . He also appreciates gaining cross-sector perspectives from working in business, serving on three nonprofit boards, and engaging on behalf of the nonprofits in public policy. The boards where Kishore serves are International Development Enterprises (iDE), that powers entrepreneurs to end poverty for families and communities, and where he was matched by our organization; Hunger Free America; and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. Kishore believes that given the convergence of challenges in global health, food security, climate change, and agriculture, “everyone needs to lean-in and give 150% to help advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By being engaged in all three sectors – private, nonprofit, and government – you will see the exponential impact.” In each of his various roles, he gets ideas that he can share across the sectors and connects people to help advance important work. At the same time, board service is a valuable learning experience in terms of governance.

??? Increasingly, companies are providing resources and support for their executives to serve on nonprofit boards. Annual studies conducted from 2017 to 2022 show the value of nonprofit board service for business people, nonprofits, communities, and companies.

With huge thanks to amazing facilitators for these robust and illuminating dicussions: Pamela Newkirk, PhD Craig M. Boise Sarah Degnan Kambou Bryan Adamson Chris Jochnick Mina Titi Liu Grady Crosby Ayo Sanderson Wilson Luciana Aquino-Hagedorn