You know about filling your nonprofit board with a matrix of key skills: a CPA, a lawyer, an HR specialist, subject matter experts, fundraisers, etc. You know about including stakeholder representatives: donors, churches, government, journalists, clients (yes clients), etc.

These are good places to start looking. But here are four nonnegotiables for the final selection.

1. A passion for the mission. They need to see the problem in society and they must believe that the mission and strategy will achieve the vision.

2. Competence. They must be able to use their skills or truly represent their stakeholders.

3. Assertiveness. They must be willing to speak up and say, “The emperor has no clothes.” They are not on the board to be yes-men or just attend meetings. You need their advice and advice that agrees with you is worthless.

4. Creativity. They must be able to brainstorm and think out of the box. It doesn’t take a board member to drink bath water.

Of course, there are lots of other important criteria, such as integrity, time availability, etc. But you will have a better board if you focus on these four points.