Increased volunteer diversity couldn’t come at a better time. One of the hottest topics credit union leaders are embracing today is diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

This development is much needed and important in making sure the communities credit unions serve and the people they hire represent diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Volunteers represent member groups best when they can personally relate to their unique needs and challenges. Doing so improves the overall direction and decisions of credit union leaders.

How onboarding is evolving

The concept of onboarding volunteers is not new. However, expectations of current and prospective volunteers are changing. Onboarding practices also need to change to stay relevant.

Volunteer recruitment needs to emphasize diversity. Credit unions lacking in diversity will need to evaluate and evolve their recruitment strategies.

Here are three suggestions for recruiting diverse board members:

1. Consult with proponents of the group you desire to serve. This could include employees who reflect a certain demographic or leaders of community groups that reflect this market.
2. Connect with other community-based organizations and nonprofits about how to reach potential volunteers.
3. Train board members on DEI issues to make sure they are ready to approach, recruit, and onboard a diverse group of people.

Successful onboarding

The purpose of onboarding is to educate and integrate new volunteers, ensuring they are prepared to make informed decisions that are congruent with the organization’s mission, vision, and values. These decisions also must ensure safety and soundness.

Begin by setting realistic expectations for new volunteers so they understand what is required, such as participation, attendance, training, engagement, advocacy, and more.

Also, provide formal and comprehensive introductions to new volunteers. Take these steps:

• Share the credit union’s history, including key changes and other impacts that influenced where the credit union is today.
• Explain your mission, vision, and values. Invite team members to relay member or community service stories that reflect your mission, vision, and values. Volunteers should understand how the new credit union team is unique.
• Host a welcome reception. This gives new volunteers a chance to meet staff and other board members. Give the new volunteer a sense of the people who shape the credit union’s unique culture. Involve new volunteers in credit union events and introduce them to community partners. This gives a sense of how the credit union is respected and how community contributes to the credit union’s brand.
• Schedule a one-on-one meeting with the human resource officer to learn about required training. Provide the training they need as soon as possible.
• Set up a meeting with the chief lending officer to educate the new volunteer about the credit union’s products, features, and borrowers. This will help when reviewing loan policies and other risk-related issues.
• Schedule time with a finance representative to explain the credit union’s business model.
• Teach, assess, and coach for the right volunteer behaviors. You wouldn’t hire a new employee and not provide training, assessment, and coaching to get them started. Volunteers are no different.

Why it matters

Credit unions need volunteers who are ready to govern into tomorrow. The diversity of volunteers is critical as the communities we serve evolve.

Simply attracting diverse volunteers isn’t enough. Once we recruit them, we need to make sure they receive the proper tools and training to do the job well. Diverse and high-performing boards set the tone for a diverse and high-performing credit union.

Recruiting and developing the best board is a work in progress, but it’s necessary. The board’s focus on developing its future governing body should be one of its top priorities.

SCOTT BUTTERFIELD is the principal at Your Credit Union Partner (yourcupartner.com).

This article initially appeared in Credit Union Directors Newsletter, which provides strategic insights for policymakers. Subscribe now to the print or PDF version.