Nonprofit Board Matching

Connecting business professionals to nonprofit boards

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BVU’s Board Matching Program

Now in its fourth decade, the BVU Board Matching program trains and matches professionals to nonprofit board opportunities that align with their unique interests, skills, and goals.

As an organization that works with hundreds of professionals and nearly 1,000 nonprofits each year, BVU knows that no two boards — or board members — are exactly alike!

These meaningful connections benefit everyone: Individuals experience personal and professional fulfillment, nonprofits amplify their impact via engaged board members, and the entire community feels the impact.

Participants Elected Since 1993

%

In Board Leadership Roles Within 1 Year

The Board Matching Process

1. Nomination

Once nominated, connect to BVU’s Board Matching team to kick off the process. See “Eligibility” for nomination criteria. 

2. Welcome

Meet with a member of BVU’s Board Matching team to review the process and outline a personal profile of your unique background, skills, preferences, and goals.

3. Research

BVU will research nonprofit board opportunities that align with your profile and prepare a custom report with your top options.

4. Meeting

Meet with BVU to discuss specific board opportunities.

5. Referral

Once you decide to move forward with one of the options, BVU will officially refer you to the nonprofit so you can learn more about each other.

6. Training

Get to know your roles and responsibilities as a board member with fellow program participants at BVU’s signature Role of the Board training!

(Attendance can occur at any stage of the process.)

7. Election

Formal election processes and timelines vary from board to board, with some happening instantly and others taking multiple months.

8. Celebration

Celebrate with fellow members of your Board Matching Class. (Participants in all stages of the process welcome to attend.)

For Professionals & Individuals

Ready to build your professional network, business skills, and leadership experience while actively shaping the future of your community? Nonprofit board service might be right for you!

BVU’s Board Matching process makes it easy to not only find a rewarding board fit, but to thrive in your new role through training and one-on-one guidance. Check out the steps and reach out to us to get started.

MATCH TO A BOARD

For Nonprofit Organizations

Building a strong board is a difficult but necessary challenge for each and every nonprofit. BVU is here to help by referring board candidates from our pool of qualified, passionate Board Matching participants.

To be considered for Board Matching referrals, simply meet with us to share insights on your current board needs!

SHARE YOUR BOARD NEEDS

Eligibility

Board Matching is available to Business Member Employees (number of available seats vary with business membership level) and individual community members (fees apply, scholarships may be available).

Board member referrals are available to ALL nonprofit organizations. (No fees or membership required!)

Candidates for board service generally demonstrate an interest in their community, achievement in their field, strong vision/strategic thinking/teamwork skills, and readiness to serve Northeast Ohio nonprofits.

GET IN TOUCH TO LEARN MORE

Why BVU’s Board Matching Program?

Develop Leadership Skills

Board service drives career growth. Enjoy even more opportunities to build leadership skills through BVU’s ongoing trainings, guidance, resources, and networking opportunities!

Tailor Your Match

Through the thoughtful assessment of dozens of factors, our holistic approach yields high-impact matches where you can meaningfully contribute your time, talent, and treasure.

Expand Your Network

By joining a nonprofit board, your professional and personal network will expand. This serves you, your career goals, your company, and your organization. A more connected community is great for everyone. 

Board Matching Events

Role of the Board

In-Person & Virtual
3-4 / Year
FREE for Board Matching Participants

This highly-acclaimed seminar provides both new and long-time board members with a deeper understanding of their roles and responsibilities. BVU brings the board experience to life through comprehensive presentations, an expert panel, dialogue with the audience, group activities, and more.

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Linking New Leaders

In-Person
2 / Year
Available to Select BVU Business Members*

Want to quickly explore organizations aligned with your interests? Designed for young professionals, this dynamic event utilizes a unique “speed-dating” format to facilitate connections between emerging talent and local organizations.

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*Free for nonprofit participants, available as a membership benefit for businesses.

Upcoming Sessions

Take the Next Steps

Ready to kick off or continue your experience in the board matching process? Start here!

Schedule Welcome Meeting

Meet with BVU briefly to provide your experience, skills, and interests and ask any questions.

CONTACT US

Review Your Options

Schedule time to review and discuss your customized board options!

CONTACT US

Register for Role of the Board

Join your class prior to the seminar to network and get to know each other.

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Board Matching Network

BVU’s Board Matching Network is over 4,000 professionals strong, with many program participants now in board leadership positions!

Board Matching Alumni enjoy continued learning and networking opportunities, as well as the inside scoop on BVU’s nonprofit services like board training/development, staff education, and volunteer recruitment.

For many participants, a board election is just the first step in uplifting their communities. BVU is here for your entire leadership journey!

JOIN THE CLASS OF 2025!

Class of 2024

Class of 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

BVU’s board matching process ensures your match aligns with your passions, budget, availability, locale, skills, and more. Common considerations include:

Mission and Organizational Structure

  • Organization budget size
  • Board, staff, and leadership details
  • Mission, programs, and impact areas

Time Commitment

  • Required board meetings (usually 4-6 annually)
  • Required committee meetings (usually 4-6 annually)
  • Board matching process is ~3 hours over 3-10 months

Cost

  • Annual board member contribution (minimum give vs. “personally significant” amount vs. other types)
  • Expected participation in fundraising events and efforts

Expertise

  • Commonly needed skills include sales, HR, finance, legal, logistics, operations, marketing, accounting, and more.
  • However, ALL business skills have utility in nonprofit governance and board leadership!
CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE
{I attended the Role of the Board session and was energized by the stories of fulfilling board experiences the panelists shared. I’m excited for the opportunity to share my experience to support a nonprofit organization!
Jen Pannell
Swagelok
{Thank you for helping facilitate bringing us such amazing board candidates. A quarter of our board is made up of BVU alum including our current board president, our treasurer and chair of our operations committee.
Gregory Willey
Friendship Animal Protective League
{BVU has been a foundational partner with Providence House for 30 years. We have partnered to match 53 Board Directors, enhanced our nonprofit expertise through every BVU program offered, and advanced our staff through hundreds of BVU led training opportunities. BVU is the vital link to help nonprofits build successful mission-driven businesses.
Natalie A. Leek
Providence House
{The evening was every bit informative as it was energizing. It was great to see young professionals take an interest in serving their community.  
Marcia Mauter
Ohio City Bicycle Co-op
{BVU's Board Matching program provided me with the confidence, knowledge, and structure to understand my role as a potential board member and facilitated the connection to do so. This is such an impactful program both for potential board members and for nonprofits. I will be encouraging others to participate. The process was easy to follow, well organized, and I appreciated the responsive communication and follow up. The role of the board training was also excellent. Thank you for making this program available!
Elaine Suarez
{BVU gave me the opportunity to be matched to an amazing nonprofit board early in my career. They gave me all the tools I needed for success, walked through the matching process with me step by step, and followed up to make sure it was successful. I recommend BVU to professionals in my network looking to get involved.
Marshall Scott
{Getting involved with nonprofits and on boards is a passion area of mine. I worked for BVU for a few years and loved it. It was such a great way to get to know Cleveland and how different nonprofits operate. After leaving, I stayed involved in the community by serving on boards and as a volunteer, which has been a really incredible experience. You learn so much through other organizations, through solving different kinds of problems, and you get to meet so many people – nonprofits in the end are really the ones driving our community forward.
Azadeh Hardiman
Progressive
{Thank you to the BVU Board Matching team for all your effort, help, and follow-up during this process. I enjoyed getting to work with you and definitely recommend BVU to anyone seeking volunteer opportunities!
Jay Lowry
CBIZ
{
BVU has been an integral component of Food Strong's growth. We now have 4 rockstar board members who were connected to us by BVU. The trainings and consultations we receive through this incredible organization have assisted us tremendously. Being a part of BVU is a no-brainer for any organization that seeks to grow and develop capacity.
Sara Continenza
Food Strong
{I would absolutely recommend the BVU board matching process to any nonprofit organization that is looking for board members. The process was very simple and the BVU staff were great to work with. The end result for VANTAGE Aging is that we have another committed and motivated board member who is already contributing to helping us further our mission. Thank you, BVU, for facilitating the connection!
Ted Watko
VANTAGE Aging