Becoming a Causie: Champion Your Cause through Nonprofit Board Leadership

by Rob Acton

Overview

Unleash Your Passion and Maximize Your Impact as a Causie.

Are you driven by a cause you care deeply about, but struggle to find the time or don’t have the know-how to make a real difference? Introducing the Causie—an intentional, passionate advocate who transforms their purpose into powerful, lasting change.

Causies make a substantial, long-term commitment to serve their cause with more than a financial donation. They’re on a mission to create change and to lead, often by securing a seat on the board of directors of the organization that best aligns with their passions, values, and goals.

In this captivating guide, Rob Acton, Founder and CEO of Cause Strategy Partners, shares his proven process for becoming a Causie:

• Identify Your Cause. Whether you’re swimming in a sea of passions or you think you have a cause but it’s not focused, Acton will walk you through how to pinpoint your cause and help you determine your “Causie style.”

• Find Your Fit. With potentially dozens of organizations serving your cause, Acton will help you home in on the perfect match for your style and impact goals.

• Make a Stellar First Impression. Learn how to skillfully introduce yourself and set the stage for success, making the most of your first encounter with the organization. It’s true that you only get one chance to make a first impression!

• Increase Your Engagement. Prepare to land a coveted seat on the board of directors by understanding board member responsibilities and Acton’s “Higher Standard of Board Service.”

• Start Strong and Confident. Articulate the specific influence you plan to make from your new leadership position – what Acton calls your “Personal Impact Hypothesis,” and hit the ground running.

Woven throughout are Acton’s own story and real-life examples of busy professionals from all walks of life who have transformed their passion into powerful advocacy through board leadership.

If you’re ready to commit to a purpose larger than yourself, this is your roadmap to becoming a Causie and maximizing your personal impact on your cause. Don’t let a busy life or the feeling that you don’t know where to begin prevent you from starting your journey from success to significance. Become a Causie and harness your passion to make a lasting difference!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781642257229
Publisher:	Advantage Media Group, Inc.
Publication date:	09/03/2024
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	756,158
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

ROB ACTON, a Top 100 Impact CEO, is the Founder of Cause Strategy Partners, a consulting firm that connects Fortune 500 executives to nonprofit board leadership opportunities. A nationally recognized expert in nonprofit governance, Rob has trained countless professionals on high-impact board service. He resides in New York City.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Rob Acton provides the definitive roadmap for a busy professional to find and serve their cause. A must read for anyone eager to make an impact in the world!"
– Karamo Brown
Emmy Award Winning Television Host, Producer, and Activist

"Rob’s book is a powerful companion to the traditional management books sought out by corporate leaders. He reminds us that even the busiest, most successful professionals are more effective and content when connected to the broader community and leveraging their skills for social causes meaningful to them. And even better, Rob offers clear direction on how to make it happen."
– Ed Wells
CEO, The Second City

"Rob Acton’s book shares foundational insights into how successful professionals can find success in driving societal change. Whether you’re decades into your career or just embarking upon it, Becoming a Causie is an essential guide for charting your path to impact in tandem with growth in the workplace."
– Steve Beard
President & CEO, Adtalem Global Education

“The time is now for nonprofit board service to be promoted and marketed to corporations, organizations, and individuals as the extraordinary opportunity it is. Rob makes a very powerful case. The stories he shares should propel each one of us to get off the bench and onto the field."
– Joan M. Garry
Best-selling author and Founder of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab

"Acton’s book is a game-changer for professionals looking to transition from success to significance. His insights and guidance offer a practical approach to finding purpose and making a difference in the world."
– Juan Mejia
President, New York Presbyterian / Brooklyn Methodist Hospital

"Rob's passion for social impact is contagious, and Becoming a Causie is a testament to his commitment to helping others find purpose in serving their communities. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a young professional, this book will motivate and empower you to make a difference as a nonprofit board leader."
– Matt Lashey
Creator & CEO of Wave Health & CEO at Treatment Technologies & Insights, Inc.

"The connection between our professional aspirations and personal passions does not need to exist in silos. Rob and his organization, Cause Strategy Partners, make this a reality by inspiring the workforce to pursue social good initiatives through the paradigms of skills and expertise. Becoming a Causie is insightful and thought provoking, begging the question, “What is your cause?” In it he defines what it means to be purpose-driven and helps readers unlock how we find deeper, intentional meaning in the work we do and the causes we support."
– Shannon Schuyler
US Chief Purpose and Inclusion Officer, PwC

"Have you ever wondered how to turn your passion into lasting purpose serving the nonprofit sector by becoming a board member extraordinaire? Written for incredibly busy people who eschew mediocrity in all they do, this indispensable how-to guide presents everything you need to know to serve your cause over your lifetime."
– Dr. Cathy Trower
Author and Principal of Trower & Trower, Inc.

"Rob Acton’s book is a game-changer for anyone seeking to leverage their skills for social good. With clarity and passion, Acton demystifies the path to nonprofit board leadership, offering actionable advice and compelling insights. Becoming A Causie is more than a book; it’s a catalyst for meaningful change in our communities and beyond."
– Brandon Parkes
Founder & CEO, Parkes Philanthropy

"Rob brilliantly provides a roadmap for anyone who wants to be a Causie! Sharing direct experiences, insights, advice and yes, even questions to consider, this approach creates a path for anyone wanting to engage in meaningful nonprofit board service."
– Lisa Dietlin
Author & CEO of the Institute of Transformational Philanthropy

"If you have a burning desire to make a difference but are unsure how to harness it into action, Rob's book is the antidote. He shows you how to mobilize that interest and channel it into meaningful board service. Rob is one of our country’s most experienced guides for professionals wanting to step into board service. This long-awaited resource has tremendous potential to catalyze and scale talent into governance roles in the social good sector."
– Dr. Laura Zumdahl
President & CEO, New Moms

"Becoming a Causie is a must read for anyone who has wondered how to be an impactful board member. Rob Acton's deep understanding of effective nonprofit board service is evident on every page of this wonderful book. His guidance will not only help individuals learn how to live their purpose through meaningful board service, but it will also help to build a stronger nonprofit sector."
– Gary Bagley
Nonprofit Consultant & Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University