Case studies on using LinkedIn Board Member Connect to find professionals to join a nonprofit board. Berkeley Food and Housing Project and Building Excellent Schools

1. Board Member Connect
Case Study: Berkeley Food & Housing Project
March 2013
Recruiting Solutions 1

2. BERKELEY FOOD AND HOUSING PROJECT
CASE STUDY
 Challenge: Berkeley Food and Housing Project provides housing and
food programs to the homeless. They identified several areas of
expertise they needed on their board, including an architect who
could advise on affordable housing and commercial tenant
improvement issues. Search criteria included:
– Local: within 10-25 miles of Berkeley, CA
– Skilled: Architect with land use, urban development experience
– Diverse: Young or mid-career professional / female
 Solution: Board member was recruited in less than two months. Terrie Light
– Reviewed top profiles in-depth and circulated for board input.
Executive Director
– Sent 20 InMails for a variety of board profiles; one InMail was
targeted at the architect role to which the candidate responded
enthusiastically.
– Met individually, then with the board and toured the agency.
– Elected onto the board within 2 months of the initial InMail.
“We would have never known each other without LinkedIn
– she didn’t know our organization and we didn’t know she
was looking for a board.”

3. BERKELEY FOOD AND HOUSING PROJECT
CASE STUDY
 Caroline Nassif, a licensed architect with affordable
housing experience, was actually hoping to join a board
when she received Terrie’s InMail. She was unanimously
voted onto the the board within two months of being
contacted.
“I met with Terrie the week after receiving her InMail.
It turned out to be exactly what I was looking for Caroline Nassif
before I even started looking. I never thought LinkedIn Board Member
was a source for me to find board opportunities - it
was a pleasant surprise.”
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4. BERKELEY FOOD AND HOUSING PROJECT
CASE STUDY
Learn more about Caroline’s experience in her LinkedIn
blog post:
http://blog.linkedin.com/2013/03/27/meaningful-connections-joining-
a-nonprofit-board-thanks-to-linkedin/
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5. Board Member Connect
Case Study: Building Excellent Schools
December 2012
Recruiting Solutions 5

6. BUILDING FOUNDING CHARTER SCHOOL BOARDS
CASE STUDY
 Building Excellent Schools supports entrepreneurs (Fellows) to
design, found, and sustain excellent charter schools in
underserved communities nationwide. One of their first tasks is
building a founding board and submitting their application.
 Misha was tasked with supporting fellows to build 7 founding
charter school boards in just 3 months.
 LinkedIn has been a “godsend,” Misha shared. “With LinkedIn,
we have a tool for maximizing the time and effort we put into Misha Charles, Director
board recruitment. It has given us a shared platform and of Governance & Board
Development
language, and made our work more effective and efficient. It has
allowed us to push beyond our current networks (via second
and third degree connections) and to select for industry, years of
experience, and even affinities. We also use profile photos for
age, race, and gender diversity. Using LinkedIn, you can build
an exceptionally diverse and strong board.”
“More than a third of the individuals on our
charter school founding boards have been
identified via LinkedIn.”
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7. BUILDING FOUNDING CHARTER SCHOOL BOARDS
CHALLENGE
 One BES school in a major city needed to build its founding board from
scratch in just 3 months. Diversity of profession, gender, race/ethnicity,
and years of experience were a must, as well as availability and
commitment to building a rigorous, college-preparatory school for
underserved students.
 Search criteria included:
 Local: within the metropolitan area
 Skilled: Real Estate, Finance, HR, Legal, Management Consulting,
Marketing and Advertising, and Education
 Diverse: Gender, race/ethnicity, seniority
 Relevant Background: Past board service, nonprofit experience,
connection to community, volunteer work
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8. BUILDING FOUNDING CHARTER SCHOOL BOARDS
PROCESS
• Advanced searches, job posting, and traditional
networking identified 140 prospects. LinkedIn
140
profiles for all candidates were reviewed for Candidates identified;
diversity. Approximately 85% came
from LinkedIn searches,
• Contacted more than 65 individuals via email to job posting
have first round meetings to assess mission
alignment, time commitment and fit. Screened through first
and second round
• Second round meetings with 13 were used as meetings
confirmation, after which the strongest were
invited to join the board.
“LinkedIn helps to find and open the door
to board prospects. Once you identify 8
them, you must thoughtfully evaluate Board members
successfully recruited and
each through interviews and research.” onboarded in 3 months
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9. BUILDING FOUNDING CHARTER SCHOOL BOARDS
OUTCOMES
Real Estate,
Finance, Community Finance, Education,
Board service connection Volunteer Nonprofit
Law Real estate, Law,
HR, Volunteer Communications Board Service
• Four of the eight board members were sourced via LinkedIn
• The board member’s profiles were included as appendices to the charter application,
demonstrating the founding team’s capacity to govern an excellent school
• Once they receive approval, the board and Fellow will use LinkedIn to build their board
into a broader governing body
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10. BUILDING FOUNDING CHARTER SCHOOL BOARDS
CASE STUDY
Learn more tips from Misha in her LinkedIn
blog post:
http://blog.linkedin.com/2013/01/16/building-nonprofit-boards-that-transform-lives/
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