Nonprofit Board Matching

Connecting business professionals to nonprofit boards

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BVU’s Board Matching Program

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!

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.

These meaningful connections benefit everyone: Individuals experience personal and professional fulfillment, nonprofit boards enjoy increased engagement and effectiveness, and the entire community feels the impact.

Participants Elected Since 1993

%

In Board Leadership Roles Within 1 Year

The Board Matching Process

1. Nomination

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

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’s Board Matching team 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 learn about your top board options. If none feel quite right, we’ll do more research to find your perfect match!

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!

(Only offered a few times each year, so attendance can occur at any stage of the process.)

7. Election

Congrats on your successful match! Formal election processes and timelines vary from board to board, with some happening instantly and others taking multiple months. (You’ll know this ahead of time!)

8. Celebration

Enjoy being part of BVU’s network of over 4,000 Board Matching alumni!

Don’t miss our year-end event to learn and celebrate with fellow members of your Board Matching Class. (Participants in all stages of the process welcome to attend.)

For more free/discounted educational offerings and networking opportunities, consider taking advantage BVU’s new Alumni Membership.

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

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.

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!)

GET IN TOUCH TO LEARN MORE

Why BVU’s Board Matching Program?

Leadership Development

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

Tailored Matching

We take pride in getting to know you and your goals. 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.

Expert Guidance

Navigating the world of nonprofit board opportunities can feel overwhelming. With BVU’s experts doing the research for you, our matching process provides answers to questions you may not know to ask. See below for examples!

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

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.

LEARN MORE

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

Upcoming Sessions

Board Matching Alumni 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

Take the Next Steps

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

Get Started

Schedule a brief welcome meeting to share your background, interests, and questions.

CONTACT US

Review Your Options

Schedule time to review and discuss your customized board options!

CONTACT US

Register for Training

Join nonprofit board experts and fellow program participants at the next Role of the Board seminar.

LEARN MORE

Questions?

Get in touch to learn more about nonprofit board matching for professionals, businesses, and nonprofits.

Please designate in the “other” box that you are interested in BVU’s Board Matching program.

{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
{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
{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
{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
{The BVU staff really took into consideration my interests and goals for joining a board. The matching suggestions were intentional, thoughtful and exciting. When reviewing the options, they took time to discuss each organization and how it related to my objectives. Such a great experience!
Deena M. Rini
Oswald Companies
{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
{I am always happy to see our folks go through the BVU board training and then get matched to an organization that is meaningful to them. This is the way it is supposed to work! We look forward to learning about the next success story.
Steven M. Auvil
Squire Patton Boggs
{Our organization appreciated the opportunity to meet such an array of impressive and good-hearted local talent. We look forward to seeing how the matches land!
Gary Szelagowski
Project White Butterfly
{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
{
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