FAQs
Am I qualified to join a board?
You are!
Associate boards were designed to help corporate professionals start making an impact today, you do not need any past board or even volunteer experience to join. All you need is a passion to get involved and the willingness to commit to meeting the board's expectations.
"Before learning about CariClub, I was not familiar with the opportunities of joining an associate board. I did not realize that associate boards make personal involvement and action accessible for someone with an interest and passion towards an issue. I had imagined that any type of board position was reserved for someone with inexhaustible qualifications; but, in fact, these organizations benefit greatly from leveraging a corporate professional’s enthusiasm and network."
Do I have time to join a board?
It is important to remember that associate boards were created with the schedule of busy corporate professionals in mind. The time commitment is totally manageable and flexible. They know your job comes first!
Most associate boards have quarterly meetings that members are encouraged to attend or dial-in to.
"[I was worried about the time commitment], but after speaking with a few nonprofits and a handful of CariClub members, I realized that it was much more manageable that I originally thought.
I quickly found out that if you have a passion for something, finding time for it is easy."
What are the first steps I should take?
The first step is to log on to CariClub. On your home page will be three nonprofit recommendations for you based on your interests, past experiences, and network involvement.
You can also search for nonprofits by name or browse by cause category. Each nonprofit page will go over their mission and impact as well as a thorough description of their associate board. We are also here to provide nonprofit recommendations by phone or email!
"CariClub made it very easy to manage expectations. Most of the AB postings had detailed specs and obligations. I knew what I was signing up for and purposely sought out an organization that not only aligned with my interests, but also had room for growth and opportunity to add real value."
How do I join a board?
Once you've found a few nonprofits you're interested in getting involved with, you can apply right through CariClub. The application is just two quick questions that you can answer in a few sentences. Submitting an application through CariClub is simply a way to open a channel of communication between you and the nonprofit. If you wind up not wanting to get involved with the organization, no problem! We recommend applying to between 1 and 3 boards. It's important to find a nonprofit with a mission you're passionate about, but also a board you are excited to be a part of!
After submitting an application, a nonprofit representative will typically get back to you within a week. Very few nonprofits have a formal application process, for most it’s more of a get-to-know you period. They will invite you to attend an event, schedule a quick call, or find a time to meet in person. During this time you will both have the chance to see if it is mutually a good fit.
"Having the opportunity to be passionate about something outside of my day job, and to experience and manifest that passion around other like-minded individuals with wildly diverse backgrounds and careers.
On an associate board, we discuss the educational landscape and organize events to raise funds to provide TFA teachers with desperately-needed school supplies. It all comes together when we receive thank you letters and photos from the teachers and their students or when we go visit them and watch them make a difference in the classroom."