7 Actionable Tips to Get Your Board Members More Engaged Today!
One of the key ways to get your nonprofit on the right track for 2024 is to make sure you and your board are on the same page - and engaged. This starts with good, clear communication!
So, today. I am asking you - TELLING YOU - to block out TWO HOURS of your TIME and take action on these 7 things to move your nonprofit organization forward.
Review the basics of board responsibilities.
Before you even get started taking steps 2-7 below to engage your board, you need to probably do a personal refresher on what the role of your board is so you can make sure you are communicating the appropriate things at the appropriate scope and making sure you know the lines and roles of the executive director and your nonprofit board.
We’ve designed this FREE Nonprofit Board Member Job Description that does just that - Goes over the basics of the type of work a board member should be doing! DOWNLOAD IT TODAY!
2. Schedule a monthly mid-month board update.
If you’re a good executive director - we know you are - you probably do a written board report or Executive Summary that you send out before the board meetings. But, I still always hear complaints from nonprofit executive directors that
“My board doesn’t know or understand all that we do.”
Well, here’s the truth - That’s on you to educate them!
Schedule mid-month executive report blast.
What should this report (maybe just an email) include?
Keep it concise and consumable,
Primarily fact-based
Consider adding up to two specific, brief client success stories or program highlights
Event calendar (let your board know what they need to be aware of versus what you want them to attend)
Think about what you might want them to know specifically. Think quality of information over quantity. A good rule of thumb is no more than two pages!
3. Review your board meeting flow for director engagement.
Most board agendas are how they are because they’ve always been that way. But, do they have to be? I HIGHLY encourage you to make your board agendas more concise and intentional! Think of your board agenda as a plan to make decisions, not an outline for discussion.
Here are some great places to start!
Put your mission statement at the top or bottom of the page.
Begin the meeting with normal items - minutes, finance report, etc.
Next list Action Items - the things you need to vote on. (Of course, the supporting documents for these are in the board packet.)
Then we have the Discussion Items, including Executive Director Report
For each item, show who is responsible, and how much time is allocated to it. This will help you avoid long-winded inconclusive discussions.
4. Set up a structured bi-weekly time to meet with your board president.
Yes, I am suggesting you set up ANOTHER MEETING!
But, this meeting is a purposeful one set up so leadership can communicate proactively! Use at least one of these meetings to work on the next board agenda in collaboration with your board president. This will make sure the agenda is prepared by the Executive Director and Board President together!
5. Create a visual of ongoing board attendance to put on your next board agenda.
Add to agenda template today. Maybe in the lower right corner, show the directors’ attendance record for the last 12 months. Actively tracking and displaying board member attendance will help directors keep attendance and participation front-of-mind.
6. Schedule One-on-One Visits
Board members are people too! Although they are collectively your boss (which can be scary), getting to know each board member, what motivates them and things they can bring to your organization will only benefit you as you work to move your nonprofit organization forward.
Schedule a meeting with each board member for coffee once or twice per year. You can have a topic or two to talk about, but it’s more about getting to know the board member and their background and motivations. Consider in-person or virtual meetings where you focus on listening and relationship-building, not agenda items.
Today, block out a structured time for these meetings and send out email invites!
7. Remember your board members are people too.
Your nonprofit board members, like you, have busy lives, families and other obligations that can occupy their attention and energy. Since they’re on your board, though, you know they want to help and contribute and this is the opportunity that they’ve seen to do it.
If you have a board member that appears to be disengaged, treat them as you would any other person. Discuss the situation, figure out what’s wrong, and determine how to help them or motivate them to become more engaged (STEPS 1-6 are all great ways).
If you don’t already, start communicating with your nonprofit board members in a way that is clear, concise and gives direct calls to action on where you need feedback or action taken by them.
