Is there a perfect size for a nonprofit board?
Your organization needs an effective board to run smoothly. This efficiency tends to rely on the capabilities of individual board members, the systems and processes you have in place, the ability of your members to work well together, and the size of the board.
If you look at the nonprofit organizations in your community, you’ll find that board size varies greatly. According to Boardsource, the average number of board members is around 15, although we maintain that small nonprofits don’t need a large board to be successful.
Given that “what is the right size?” is often a pressing question when determining a board, we’re looking at what that means and how you might find that number for your organization:
What Does “Right-Size” Mean for a Board?
We’ll start by saying there’s no universal “right” size of every nonprofit board. If you’re a small, local nonprofit, it might be difficult for you to fill a 15-person board. A large, national organization may find that a larger board creates roadblocks, while a smaller one can’t accomplish everything needed.
That said, “right-size” means that your board is large enough to be impactful and get the work done that needs doing, yet small enough that teamwork is enabled. Your board should work effectively as a team, with solid communication to manage organizational priorities. For some nonprofits, a 5-member board might be the best fit. For others, you may need 15 or more.
It’s interesting to note that board size and structure have changed significantly as the board's role in governance has become pivotal. If you go back twenty-plus years, boards were often massive in comparison. Nonprofits used to attempt to squeeze in all their major donors. Now, there’s more of an emphasis on boards built based on the competencies or talents of the members. Leaner, more skilled boards are better able to make a significant difference.
Pros and Cons of Small vs. Large Boards
When you’re thinking about what the ideal board size might look like for your organization, you must consider some of the common pros and cons of small vs. large boards. We’ve broken some down here:
Smaller Boards
Pros:
It’s easier for board members to get to know one another and develop strong working relationships.
More direct involvement and involvement opportunities exist for board members.
Communication tends to be easier with fewer people to keep in the loop.
It’s often quicker and easier to make decisions and get projects or tasks rolling. Smaller boards may be more agile.
Cons:
Board members may need to take on several tasks. Sometimes this might include things that are outside of their best skills.
Board members may burn out more quickly, especially if their workloads are too heavy.
Fundraising duties may fall to just a few people and can become a heavy burden.
Smaller boards may not be as diverse in terms of backgrounds and experience. They may not represent varied opinions and ideas.
The board may not have access to the expertise it needs.
The board may struggle with exerting influence.
Large Boards
Pros:
More people will share the workload.
You can form subcommittees; board members can work in areas of their expertise.
They can represent more diverse perspectives.
Fundraising tasks are shared.
There is a greater potential for networks and connections.
Cons:
It can be more challenging to communicate and bring everyone together as a team. Entire board conversations may be quite difficult.
Decision-making can be slowed with more people to consider.
Sometimes, not all members will have the opportunity to be engaged in meaningful work.
Board members may become disengaged from the board's governing role and may become infrequent participants.
Sometimes cliques can form, putting some members on the outside; those smaller groups could take over making the major decisions.
One crucial factor to consider at the root of all this is your board's engagement. A board that is not the right size for the organization can quickly see board member engagement drop off, especially if people don’t feel effective in their role. Your aim should always be to maximize the talents and time of your board members rather than having them disengage.
A “right-size” nonprofit board can effectively make decisions and keep members engaged with meaningful work.
How to Find your “Right-Size”
If you look for data on what the “right-size” is for a nonprofit board, you’ll find a range of advice. For example, The Nonprofit Times suggested that seven is an optimal number for boards to be effective decision-makers. They say each additional member after seven decreases decision-making aptitude by 10%.
In practice, we’ve found that smaller boards can be effective, particularly if they work alongside an advisory council. One of our clients has deliberately chosen a five-person board of directors, which works well for them. Having an advisory council to supplement the board and help provide guidance allowed them to reach this smaller number. If you’re considering board size, it may pay to include an advisory council as part of that discussion - it just might create your “right-size.”
You need to answer a couple of critical questions when determining your board size: 1) What do you need the board to achieve? 2) What expertise do you need to achieve it?
These days, board members should be mission-driven, passionate about the cause, and possess the skills to be effective. It shouldn’t be about offering positions to key donors unless the donors in question have the skills needed, particularly around governance.
Part of your consideration should be the overall organization size. National organizations with local chapters might require a larger board at the national level but smaller boards in their regions.
Your bylaws may also play a role in board numbers. For example, some boards operate by giving the chairperson the tie-breaker vote. Others deliberately have an odd number to prevent tie situations.
Consider what size will be conducive to every board member having a meaningful purpose. How will you keep members engaged and moving forward?
Conclusion
There is no universal “right” size for nonprofit boards, but there is a right size for yours. The underlying aim is to have a board that is big enough to get a range of perspectives, experiences, and connections yet small enough to make decisions efficiently and keep board members engaged with meaningful work.
Make board effectiveness a priority by considering what goals you need your board to achieve and the skills needed among members to achieve them.