# Should we pay board members?

**URL:** <https://community.mtnonprofit.org/t/should-we-pay-board-members/208>\
**Category:** Board Management\
**Created:** [October 5, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.mtnonprofit.org/t/should-we-pay-board-members/208 "2023-10-05T21:34:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![srogala](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.mtnonprofit.org/srogala/32/61_2.png) [@srogala](https://community.mtnonprofit.org/u/srogala)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.mtnonprofit.org/t/should-we-pay-board-members/208/1 "2023-10-05T21:34:05Z")

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Y’all. This is a question we’ve heard quite a bit in the last three years, and for good reason. BIPOC board members often take on more exhaustive emotional labor and are often asked to represent all marginalized voices - a heavy and wearing ask for your potentially brand new board member. All this while [still facing micro and macro aggressions and racism.](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/lessons-building-belonging)

Conflict of Interest concerns typically prevent board members from being paid employees, as they cannot be seen to have financial gain from serving on the board of a c3. Not to mention, some of our most vocal nonprofit thought leaders decry [even reimbursing board member expenses.](https://www.joangarry.com/board-member-expenses/)

It’s a complicated concern - and one y’all have been asking about. The short answer is, we don’t know and we think there is a lot of room for dialogue. So we open it to you:

- Does your organization have a travel cost or reimbursement policy?

- Does your organization or have you considered compensating or offering a stipend to BIPOC or other marginalized board members?

This will bring a lot of strong opinions out so I invite you to engage thoughtfully and constructively, and [follow our community guidelines.](https://community.mtnonprofit.org/t/faq-guidelines/5)

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**Author:** ![scchotfed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@scchotfed](https://community.mtnonprofit.org/u/scchotfed)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 1:36pm UTC](https://community.mtnonprofit.org/t/should-we-pay-board-members/208/2 "2023-10-09T13:36:44Z")

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We allow a minimal mileage allowance per year per board member if they choose to take the reimbursement. We serve low-to-moderate-income households. We want our board to have a voice from that sector without causing undue hardship.