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It was a service like this that matched Craig Glover, CEO of and chair of the United Way’s board, with his first board assignment. More than 20 years ago, Glover joined the board of , a nonprofit in St. Louis, Missouri, that supports children and teens who are grieving a death.

“ I didn't go looking for them, and [a] board matching service introduced us. Without this service, I would've never heard of Annie's Hope, but that connection changed my life and I still support them to this day,� he said.

What does a board do?

Glover said nonprofit board members, who are usually unpaid, set the long-term vision for the organization that staff such as United Way President Margaret O’Neal follow.

“ For example, the board may say, 'In three years from now, we want to open a new location on the West Side of Charleston,'" Glover said. “That's the strategy part. But then it's up to the folks who work in the organization to figure out how you get from today to that site in three years from now.�

Boards meet on different schedules. The United Way board meets every other month, but the board’s executive committee meets on the other months.

Glover said many nonprofit boards have term limits. These limits bring in fresh perspective, but they also mean boards are always recruiting.

“ Recruitment isn't about just finding someone who can show up to a meeting. It is about finding people with the right mix of passion, time, skills, and commitment,� he said.

O’Neal said when she sees a nonprofit fail, the cause is often a lack of good governance of the board.

“ Every month, we've got somebody looking at our financial statement, meeting with our CFO and myself, making sure that the work's being done and accomplished in the way they want it to be,� O’Neal said.

Board diversity

While board members do oversee the financial status of nonprofits, board members don’t necessarily need to be a finance expert, Glover said. Boards often have a list of skills that they believe are necessary for the board called a board matrix. They also look for diversity in ages, genders and ethnicities.

“ If you're not bringing finance to the board, you're bringing something else. You're bringing your skills that you've learned through college, through your work experience,� Glover said.

O’Neal said she’s hoping this tool gets young professionals involved in local nonprofits.

“I think giving young professionals a chance to get started," O'Neal said, "and figure out what's a good fit that you want to feel that passion about is hopefully another way that we can connect people.�

Finding the unknown

The Connector Board can also connect people with nonprofits they may not have heard of, such as the , said Traci Strickland, KVC executive director.

The KVC provides services to the homeless communities in Kanawha, Clay, Boone and Putnam counties. In Charleston, the KVC runs the cooling and warming centers during extreme temperatures.

Strickland said the KVC is always looking for people with a background in finance and law, but they are also looking for a diverse group of people who want to work to end homelessness.

“ I think a lot of people in the community don't really understand what boards are, how to get connected to a board, how to serve on a board,� she said. “This service can be a conduit for people that have the want, but don't know how to make that want happen.�