Publication Date: May 22, 2025
Authored by: Lisa Cooper
🕒 5 minute read
Most non-profits understand that having a diverse group of board members with a wide variety of skills, perspectives, and abilities is critical for leading an organization well. Leaders in finance, legal, and fundraising are highly sought after. But what is often missing from the slate are leaders with a deep understanding of human resources. From culture to compliance and everything in between, today’s HR pros provide valuable competencies that can truly elevate a non-profit.
Unlike for-profits that may lean on products or assets, non-profits run on people—employees, volunteers, and leaders. An HR expert brings insight into managing, motivating, and protecting that workforce. Having a board member with a solid HR background isn’t a “nice to have”—it’s strategic. Here’s why:
HR folks are great at building strong boards.
Because we interview and hire for a living, we know how to create an equitable, yet efficient, nomination and selection process. We have vast networks and are passionate about creating a great candidate experience. Having HR expertise on the board ensures that diversity and inclusion are woven into governance and organizational strategy—not just programming.
We’re experienced in Executive Director (ED) succession planning and execution.
When an ED retired from a board we served on, the board looked to us to lead the selection process. That’s a perfect example of the critical role HR can play in leadership continuity.
Governance is like HR for boards.
Well-operating boards have strong bylaws, clear board job descriptions, robust recruitment materials, and consistent annual cadences for things like approving the 990 and selecting a new slate. No one manages these more effectively than your friendly HR partner. When faced with a disengaged board member, your HR board member is well-versed in gracefully having the proverbial ‘be there or be square’ conversation. We love tools like board composition matrices to ensure diversity in skills, experience, and demographics, as well as board engagement surveys and events to foster a strong, healthy team.
HR can lead the board through that annual ED performance review.
Most boards REALLY struggle with this.We’ve seen too many cases where reviews are late, inconsistent, completed by just one person (hint: bad idea), or forgotten all together, resulting in major misalignment between board, ED and/or staff. In HR, we know how to create meaningful performance measures and a review process that incorporates feedback from the ED themselves, as well as stakeholders like the leadership team, the board, and even major donors or community partners. A thoughtful and robust 360-review process helps your ED receive actionable feedback and achievable goals — something every leader wants, needs, and deserves.
COVID-19 and the evolving world of work taught HR to be strategic.
We had no choice. Our CEOs looked to us to lead all things health and wellness, compliance, remote work, layoffs, internal communications, and employee engagement—all amid great uncertainty. We are now better equipped than ever to assess organizational issues and opportunities from a top-down lens.
HR drives culture & engagement.
Culture isn’t just an internal issue—it’s part of your brand. A board member with HR chops can advocate for inclusive, mission-aligned people practices that attract and retain top talent, both staff and volunteers.
HR professionals bring compliance and risk mitigation expertise.
From wage and hour laws to evolving workplace regulations, non-profits can’t afford to fall behind. An HR expert on the board can act as an early issue-spotter and a trusted (also: free!) resource for the leadership team, helping ensure labor laws, DEI efforts, investigations, and employee relations are handled appropriately.
HR leaders want to get involved
We love sharing our time, talents, and treasures with organizations that have a meaningful mission.We have dozens of HR friends who are eager to roll up their sleeves and contribute to your non-profit and a cause that matters.
People are just as important as programs.
Non-profits thrive when they care for their people just as much as their programs. Having an HR expert on your board isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a strategic move that strengthens your mission from the inside out.
If your organization doesn’t currently have HR expertise on the board, consider filling that gap—or partner with a consulting team that can bring that perspective to the table. At Cooper People Group, we help non-profits build strong, people-first foundations that support sustainable impact. Contact us today!
