You are talking to a good friend who works for a local nonprofit, and the conversation goes something like this: "We really need some new people on our board. I know you're interested in (agency name here)'s work. Would you come on our board?"

And before you can ask yourself, "What are my legal and fiduciary responsibilities?" or "Do I believe in this cause?" or "Can I commit the time to being a good board member?" your mouth opens and says, "Yes."

This is an intervention. You must stop yourself.

As any executive director can attest, good board members are hard to find.

We don't do our nonprofits any favors when we sit on boards without knowing how to read a financial statement or that it is our responsibility to both make a gift and ask for gifts. Being a good board member requires even more than knowledge of one's legal responsibilities. It also requires passion for the mission the organization seeks to achieve.

Santa Fe Community Foundation's Future Santa Fe is a giving circle for people age 50 and younger. Members of this group are also our community's future board leaders — both for nonprofit and for-profit corporations. In pursuit of being better future board members, Future Santa Fe will host on workshop on March 8 titled "So You Want to be a Board Member?"

Presenters Terry Odendahl and Patrick Dolan will cover board members' responsibilities in governing, financial management and fundraising. Board members' legal responsibilities will also be outlined.

With more than 30 years experience in the foundation and nonprofit community
as a board member, CEO, critic, trainer and researcher, Odendahl is president of
the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers. She is co-founder of Santa Fe's Institute for Collaborative Change. She served as executive director of the National Network of Grantmakers, where she led a campaign to increase foundation payout.

Odendahl says, "In my experience, most boards fall down in both their fundraising and their fiduciary/financial responsibilities."

Dolan is a member of the Rubin Katz Law Firm. He specializes in estate planning, business and real-estate law. He is involved with several nonprofit organizations, including serving as a director of the First Judicial District Bar Association, the New Mexico State Bar Section of Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law, and the New Mexico State Bar Section of Taxation. He also volunteers as a member of the legal committee for the Santa Fe Community Foundation.

"People who volunteer to serve on the board of directors of a nonprofit generously give of their time, talent and treasure," Dolan said "To ensure a positive and rewarding experience, it is important that they understand their legal duties and the protections available to them."

The workshop will run from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 8; to register call 988-9715, ext. 3. The cost of $25 includes breakfast (Future Santa Fe members may attend for free). For information on Future Santa Fe, see www.santafecf.org/grants/futuresf.php.

Valerie Ingram is the development director at the Santa Fe Community Foundation and can be reached at vingram@santafecf.org or 505-988-9715, ext. 4.