by Megan Matt

Joining a non-profit board is an excellent way to improve your leadership skills, learn about organizational management and to meet people in your community who might help you professionally. And, contrary to popular belief, non-profit boards are not just for the retired and the super rich. Eager to tap into the next generation, non-profits are dying to have motivated young people join them.

Many boards have expectations that their members will bring financial contributions, and some have set amounts. However, if you are short on cash, don’t let that deter you. If you have a wide social or professional network, you might be surprised at how easy fundraising can be.

If you are uncertain about your ability to fundraise, you can also look for a non-profit that is in line with your professional background. Such an organization might be happy to accept your skills and expertise in lieu of cash. This is what happened in my case where, as an educational consultant, my teaching background was more valuable to the educational non-profit I joined than any monetary contribution would be.

If you are interested in finding a non-profit board in your area, check out: boardnetusa.org, idealist.org, or the volunteer center in your local community. Organizations such as The Junior League are also a great way to find volunteer opportunities.

Megan Matt is an educational consultant and owner of Megan Matt’s Teachable Moments (www.teach-mom.com). An expert in the field of early childhood education, she provides workshops on parenting topics and supports individual families and their caregivers to improve educational quality at home.