What our Companions bring
Every Companion is different, but the expertise you can tap into across
our pool is consistent.
| Area |
What this looks like on your board |
| Governance |
Healthier board dynamics, clear roles, real oversight, succession planning |
| Strategy |
Long-term thinking, prioritisation, business model evolution |
| Finance |
Sustainable funding structures, controls, financial reporting that stands up to scrutiny |
| People and organisation |
Leadership development, structure, succession for your executive team |
| Digital and technology |
Pragmatic judgement on what to invest in and what to skip |
| Sustainability and impact |
Frameworks for measuring what you actually change, not just what you do |
| Networks |
Introductions you would struggle to make on your own |
Most Companions cover a cluster of these, not all of them. The point of
the matching process is to find the mix that fits your specific
organisation and the position you need to fill.
Who works with us
The SPOs we serve tend to fall into three groups:
- Societal challenge solvers — organisations addressing specific
social issues, from inclusive sports to refugee integration to mental
health to education access.
- Innovators — teams using new tools, new service models, or new
partnerships to solve problems that the traditional non-profit model
has not cracked.
- Mission-driven enterprises — social businesses that balance
purpose with a sustainable commercial model and need governance
that understands both sides.
If your organisation is serious about its mission, clear about what it
needs from a board, and ready to engage professionally with a Companion,
you probably fit.
What we need from you
The matching process works when the organisation does its half well.
That mostly means being honest and specific.
A complete organisation profile
You fill out an intake profile covering:
- Who you are — legal form, purpose, history, funding model.
- Where you are — size, budget, staff and volunteers, growth trajectory.
- How you are governed — board structure, current composition, who
chairs, what is formally in place.
- What you're dealing with — the challenges that brought you to us, the
projects in flight, what the board is currently grappling with.
- What you need in a Companion — skills, sector experience, time
commitment, preferred languages, location, travel expectations.
This profile is what our Companions read before they express interest.
Write it for someone who does not yet know your organisation.
Realistic expectations
A Companion is not a free consultant, not an interim executive, and not
a fundraiser-in-disguise. A Companion joins your board. That means
meeting rhythm, preparation time, discussion, decision-making — real
governance, as a volunteer.
Time and engagement
You'll have a first conversation with your country team, a profile
review, and, once matched, the onboarding you would extend to any new
board member. Budget a few hours over a few weeks.
A Letter of Intent
Before a match, both sides sign a short mutual letter covering
expectations, confidentiality, pro-bono terms, and simple co-branding
permissions (you get to tell your funders we work together; we get to
tell our network about the placement, with your consent for the
specifics).
How matching happens
Most matches come out of our country matching events — structured
sessions where three to eight organisations meet a prepared group of
Companions over short rotations and both sides rank interest
afterwards. Where a matching event is not scheduled or the fit is
clear, we arrange direct introductions.
Either way, the country team briefs both sides, facilitates the
introduction, and checks back in once the relationship is underway.
See the matching process for the full walkthrough.
What we will not do
A short list, because it saves everyone time:
- Place a Companion without a briefing. We don't do warm leads.
- Match organisations that are in acute crisis where a board
addition won't help — we'll suggest a more appropriate path.
- Place Companions into executive or operational roles. Governance
only; executive work is the organisation's job.
- Make promises about fundraising. Companions open doors and
strengthen your credibility with funders, but they are not there to
run campaigns.
Apply
The organisation intake form captures who you are and what you need.
You can save progress and submit when ready.
Questions? Reach your country team via the
contact page.
Cross-country queries (partnerships, press, BoardCompanions.org
topics) go to info@boardcompanions.be.
