A few years ago, I decided it was time for me to serve on the board of directors of a local non-profit, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I knew I could put my skills and passion to good use, but it wasn’t easy to determine which non-profit might be the best fit for me. And the question remained - would they want me? Was I about to embark on a daunting task only to be rejected? Maybe, but I chose to move forward with my inquiry. One thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to serve on a working board with an organization in their first ten years. I expected to get into the nitty gritty of the organization to learn about operations, finances, and development among other things. As with all opportunities, I approached the prospect of board service as an opportunity to learn. I knew I could make an impact if given the chance, so I set off to find the non-profit of my dreams. Fast forward to today and I have served for nearly two years on the Board of Directors of Todos Juntos Learning Center. In my search to serve on a board, Todos Juntos was immediately on my shortlist of possible non-profits after learning about the organization through Mission Capital’s Board Summit. After meeting with the founders and/ or executive directors of four awesome non-profits, I was honored to know each expressed interest in me serving on their board, but I ultimately felt Todos Juntos was the best fit for a number of reasons. I'll never forget meeting with the Board Chair, with my 4-year old in tow. We met at a La Madeleine and I spent half my time redirecting my son while trying to respond articulately to questions related to my experience and interests. Thankfully the board chair was a mama, too, so she got it. ![]() In the first two years of my board service, again - the only board I have served on to date, I have chaired the organization’s signature annual fundraising gala, which was held virtually in February 2021 (days before the disastrous winter storm Uri) and raised over $100k. Last month, I was nominated by board leadership to serve as board co-chair and will officially be stepping into that role in the coming month. I knew back in 2019 Todos Juntos was a great fit for me, and I'm thankful they saw my potential despite not having deep pockets, fancy degrees, or an impressive title. In my opinion, more boards need to focus on diversity in every sense of the word because those of who want to serve, will always deliver. If you are interested in serving on a board - start brainstorming, and stay tuned for an upcoming post on why I think a non-profit board needs YOU. Can you find me? |
Melissa Acosta is the Creator & Founder of mama wears pants, which she launched in 2021 as a wellness community.
In the MWP blog, Melissa shares openly about family, wellness, and community as a bold mama committed to personal growth. Melissa resides in Austin, TX with her husband and two boys. Categories
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