CHC Board Composition & Recruitment
A Community Health Center Board of Directors is unique in its composition and needs. Understanding federal regulations and best practices for finding board members will go a long way toward helping you create an effective and dynamic Board of Directors. The following resources will be useful if you are creating a board from scratch for a New Start health center, and if you are seeking new members for your existing Board of Directors.
Please click or scroll down for:
What Should Your Board Look Like?
Recruiting Board Members
WHAT SHOULD YOUR BOARD LOOK LIKE?
FQHC Board Composition Requirements:
- The number of members on your board should be specified in the bylaws of your organization (either a specific number or a range); by law, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) need nine to 25 board members, representative of the populations served by the health center
- At least 51% of the board members must use the health center as their regular source of health care
- No more than ½ of the non-user board members may earn more than 10% of their annual income from the health care industry
- The remaining members should be representative of the community served by the health center
- No board member may be an employee of the center or the spouse, child, parent, brother, or sister of a health center employee
Exceptions to these regulations may apply in the case of Migrant, Homeless, and Public Housing health centers. Consult the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) for these exceptions.
For more information about FQHC governance regulations, visit these online resources:
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR)
Public Health Regulations Governing Grants for Operating Community Health Centers, Specifically § 51c.304: Governing Board
e-CFR Catalog
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Roles and responsibilities of health center governing boards
Governing Board Handbook
National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)
Reference document, 01/05:
"So You Want to Start a Health Center: a Practical Guide for Starting a Federally Qualified Health Center"
RECRUITING HEALTH CENTER BOARD MEMBERS
Before you begin active recruitment:
- Make sure the organization's by-laws or other internal rules specify a process for selecting board members that represent the populations served by the center (this is required by federal law)
- Make sure the organization has a clear mission; board members that believe in this mission are more likely to energetically support the organization
- Identify the tasks that will be accomplished by the new members
- Identify any specific skills needed by the new members (e.g. advocacy, marketing, finance, law, fundraising, etc.)
- Work with the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director, applicable board committee, and others to:
- Brainstorm possible sources of new board members (e.g. health center users, local volunteer and membership organizations, colleges and universities, etc.)
- Identify and research possible individuals for recruitment
When recruiting individuals:
- Remember the board composition requirements set forth in your by-laws and in federal regulations
- Keep in mind these preferred board member characteristics:
- Look for someone not too busy, but without too much time on their hands
- Look for people with experience, skill, and expertise in areas that are important to your organization
- Consider people who have served on other Boards of Directors
- Pick independent, thoughtful, and passionate people
- Recruit people who will look to the future (with an understanding of the present) instead of focusing on the past
- If possible, choose people who are ready to contribute financially
- Make your expectations very clear, both verbally and in writing; avoid future surprises by using a Board Member Job Description to illustrate specific needs and duties
- Click HERE for a sample Board Member Job Description.
- Have prospective board members ask themselves these questions:
- Is this the right cause and organization for me?
- Can I work with this agency and this board at this particular stage in its life?
- What can I, and what will I, contribute to this organization?
- What do I want out of being on this board?
Additional Online Board Recruitment Resources:
Agility Executive Search Blog
Article, 01/13/11:
The Do’s and Don’ts of Recruiting, Developing, and Retaining an Excellent Board of Directors
Bridgestar
Board job descriptions, orientation suggestions, community advice, and understanding organizational priorities
Recruit Nonprofit Board Members
Commentary addressing identifying great candidates, recruiting for diversity, conducting due diligence, and ensuring a cultural fit
Recruiting and Vetting Nonprofit Board Members
Board Source
Q&As
What Should I Know Before Joining a Nonprofit Board?
boardnetUSA
Connecting non-profit boards and new leaders (free sign up required)
Nonprofits Find a Board Member for Free!
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Article, 12/17/01:
Tips for Recruiting the Best Board Members
Article, 07/07/08:
How to Recruit Board Members
Article, 08/15/08:
Tips on Recruiting New Board Members
CompassPoint Board Café Newsletter Archive
Archived newsletter articles relevant to non-profit boards, including multiple resources on recruiting and diversity
Board Café Archives
Creating the Future
Article, 2003:
Recruiting Your Organization’s First Board (Or, if You’ve Already Started, How to Move on to Your Second or “Real” Board)
Article, 2005:
Recruiting for Board Members: Process? What Process?
Governance Matters
Multi-topic website addressing board recruitment, including implementing a recruitment process, introducing diversity, recruiting young people, etc.
Board Leadership Recruitment: Getting New People on Your Board (Website)
Board Leadership Recruitment: Getting New People on Your Board (PDF)
Governance Matters
Roundtables; Overviews with notes and links to additional board-related resources
Recruiting, Retaining the Right Board Members, 02/18/10
Diversifying Your Board of Directors: Strategies for Success, 05/17/06
Governance Matters
Workshop; Overview with notes and additional resources including recruitment plan and board manual
Nonprofit Board Recruitment, 03/29/06
GuideStar
Article, 2007:
What to Ask Every Prospective Board Member
Help 4 NonProfits & Tribes Institute
Article, 2005:
10 “Stop” Signs on the Road to Board Recruitment
ManagementHelp.org
Free complete board toolkit includes numerous board recruitment resources
Recruiting Board Members
List of 10 steps for recruiting new board members
Guidelines for Recruiting New Board Members
Links to six board member job descriptions
Sample Job Descriptions for Members of Boards of Directors
Metro Volunteers
Colorado resource for recruiting and training volunteer board members
Board Bank
Migrant Health Newsline
Newsletter, 11/09:
Building and Sustaining an Engaged Farmworker Majority Board of Directors: Challenges, Opportunities, Rewards (pages 3-6)
Migrant Health Center Governance: How to Build and Maintain an Effective Board (pages 1-2)
Nonprofit Conversation
Article, 05/03/09:
Recruiting and Retaining Board Members
RiSE Network
Videoconference, 01/20/11:
Building a Better Board Replay
Links to Support Materials
