One of the most frustrating parts of working at a nonprofit can be having a bored board (pardon the pun). When your board members aren’t engaged with your organization, communicating with them can feel like a conversation between two people speaking different languages. The last thing any director of development wants is to spend time translating board expectations, when that time could be spent cultivating donors or developing new fundraising strategies.
To make your organization successful, you and your board need to speak the same language. When you and your board are on the same page, it will not only keep expectations from being lost in translation, it will also help board members feel as though they are a valued part of your organization. This feeling of being valued means that they are more likely to want to be ambassadors of your mission and want to contribute to your organization’s growth.
We know you’re busy, so we’ve created an easy plan to not only increase your board’s engagement, but also to boost their enthusiasm for your organization.
Know what you want
Understanding exactly what you’d like your board to accomplish can help you decide how to best engage them. Before you meet with your board, take a minute to outline your goals for your board. Ideally, what role do you want your board to play in your organization? Would you prefer a greater degree of involvement, or for them to be more hands off? It may help to create a list of your needs and expectations, and brainstorm how your board can fulfill them.
Get to know them
Boards that function best are ones where members feel involved in the organization. One way to get your board members involved is to understand their motivations. Knowing why a board member is passionate about your organization will allow you to create opportunities for him or her to serve more effectively. Ask your board members:
- What motivates you about this mission?
- What do you hope to accomplish as a board member?
- Are there any other ways you’d like to be involved?
Often, board members may be interested in other opportunities with your organization, such as volunteering or organizing events. However, keep in mind that your board members are often busy as well. So if they’re happy with their current level of engagement, don’t push. When each board member is involved to a degree where he or she feels useful and happy, you’ll have a more productive organization overall.
Communicate Clearly
Engaging your board is all about communication. Your board needs to understand not only the financial realities of your organization, but also what you can reasonably accomplish with your fundraising efforts. This means that clear communication is essential. You can encourage open communication by providing your board with resources such as current financial information, updates on projects, and other pertinent information. Your board should have a realistic picture of your organization, which will then help them better understand your needs and position.
You want your board to be your advocates— they should support your efforts and help you reach your fundraising goals. By keeping them engaged and communicating clearly with them, you’ll be able to create a board that is excited about your mission, and excited to help your organization grow. If you’d like help developing an effective board, get in touch with our team. We’d love to strategize with you about how to get the most from your board members.