August 21, 2026
Throughout my long career working in the non-profit sector, there have been many times when organizations—including Youth Opportunities Unlimited—have faced significant pressure to change.
Sometimes that pressure came from funders changing their priorities. Sometimes it came from donors who had a particular vision for how their support should be used. And sometimes it came from well-intentioned people who believed they knew what an organization should be doing.
I’ve experienced all of those situations.
There were times when funders wanted organizations to move away from their focus on specific groups, donors encouraged us to change the population we were serving, and funders tried to influence everything from the design and location of a housing project to how it should operate.
Change isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, non-profits need to be willing to change if they are going to respond to evolving community needs.
But there is a risk that comes with all of that pressure: mission drift.
How do we make sure that change is thoughtful, strategic and advances an organization’s mission rather than slowly compromising it?
One of the most important answers is something that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves: the non-profit board of directors.
Every non-profit has a board. Its role is much more than approving budgets, attending meetings and fulfilling legal requirements. A strong board provides governance, asks difficult questions, protects the organization’s mission and helps ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of the people and community the organization exists to serve.
And perhaps most importantly, an effective board provides a source of independent community leadership when an organization is facing pressure to change.
That is why I believe boards are one of the most powerful—and sometimes underutilized—assets in the non-profit sector.
For this week’s Steve’s Reflections, I sat down with Cheryl Miller, a longtime community leader (agitator??) and board volunteer, to talk about her experience serving on non-profit boards and the role board members can play when organizations are navigating significant challenges and change.
Cheryl has spent many years contributing her time, experience and perspective around board tables. Her story offers a window into what effective board service can look like - why it matters and how you can get involved in a cause.
I hope this conversation prompts a bigger question for those watching: What can I do to help my community through these tough times – either around a board table, or in some other volunteer role?
Our communities need people willing to bring their experience, ideas, questions and passion to the organizations working to make our communities stronger. Board service is one way to do that. There are many others.
You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t even need to be an expert in the organization’s field. What you need is a willingness to listen, ask good questions, understand the mission and help an organization stay true to the people it exists to serve.
Strong organizations need strong boards. And strong communities need people willing to step forward and help lead.
I hope Cheryl’s story inspires you to think about how you might contribute
.
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