How To Connect Meaningfully with Your Board of Directors

As a quick refresh, let’s go over the role of a nonprofit’s board of directors.

A board of directors should provide your nonprofit with strategic oversight and governance under federal, state, and local laws. They are responsible for ensuring that all decisions are made in the nonprofit's best interest, including:

• Shaping your vision and direction: Board members leverage their real-world experience and apply their knowledge to benefit your operations. They can help narrow down your focus, pushing your operations in directions that will make the most meaningful impact.
• Approve strategic plans: Your board helps protect the financial health and well-being of your nonprofit. To do so, they review key documentation, including budgets, grant strategies, operating expenses, etc., to get a holistic view of your long and short-term plans.
• Make useful connections: Your board of directors is often composed of industry leaders. They have deep expertise in their field, and they can often help connect you with others.

Your board supports your organization because they believe in what you’re doing. They want to be a part of the positive change you hope to bring about in your local community and the world, so don’t be afraid to call on them.

If you’re unsure how to connect meaningfully with your board of directors, these strategies are a great place to start.

1. Share Regular Updates

One of the best ways to connect effectively with your board is to establish a regular communication cadence with them.

Start by asking their preference on how often they would like to receive updates. Typically, it will be on a monthly or quarterly basis. However, during peak times, they may request more frequent updates.

Once you’ve established their preferred communication cadence, you can pull together brief reports to share organizational highlights from the period. These can include:

• Program updates
• Grant progress
• Funding roadblocks
• Impact metrics
• Client testimonials

Keep your reports brief and to the point. These regular updates can help them feel connected to your nonprofit’s operations and stay informed of current happenings. And, if you have any asks of them, be direct. Give a clear deadline for when you need their response.‍

Pro Tip: With Instrumentl’s grant management software, you can generate reports on your funding progress with the click of a button. Keeping your board in the loop on which grants you’re pursuing, how many you’ve won, and how much funding you’ve received has never been easier.

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2. Reach Out for Guidance

Your board members are well-respected leaders in their fields, so don’t hesitate to ask them for guidance.

• Ask for advice: Ask for recommendations. Pepper them with questions about something they’ve had to overcome in the past and how they would approach a problem. Ask them for their opinions on what makes your nonprofit unique and what next steps you should take. Your board of directors is there to help you.
• Leverage their expertise: Pick their brains about their industry. Follow up with additional questions to dig deeper. There may be learnings you can apply to your nonprofit. They are experts for a reason.
• Check for connections: Request introductions for people within their network. If you’re not sure how your board is connected, ask them directly. They can connect you with others from their network who can benefit the nonprofit.

Remember: Your board members volunteer their time and talent with your nonprofit. They want to see you succeed. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them for guidance.

3. Build Strong Relationships

You may only interact with your board members a few times a year, but when you do, listen to what they’re saying—not just professionally but also personally.

When you interact with them, you can:

• Ask about their families: At the last board meeting, they may have shared that they are expecting a grandchild, their children are getting married, or their wife is retiring. Referencing these details the next time you see them shows that you care about them personally.
• Share relevant updates: Outside the traditional reports, if there’s a cause or program they are interested in, reach out with updates. Share progress or testimonials. Highlight wins. Your board member will take note that you remember their specific interests.
• Congratulate them: Set up Google alerts for your board members and their companies. When something good happens, reach out to congratulate them. Share that you read an article they were quoted in and found it very educational. Take an interest in their career outside of the nonprofit.

A strong relationship can help your board members be more engaged with your organization.

Elizabeth Morgan Burrows, founder of Burrows Consulting, stresses the importance of building relationships with your board members:
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“Make sure to get to know each and every board member. If you are the leader of an organization, I promise it will be worth your time to have lunch or coffee with each of your board members.”

The more engaged they are, the more willing they will be to go above and beyond when you need them.

4. Drive Transparency in All You Do

While it can be tempting to only interact with your board of directors when things are going well, you’re doing yourself and your nonprofit a disservice.

Jeannette Archer-Simons, President/Development Director of Archer-Simons Consulting Group, shares more about the importance of being transparent, even when things aren’t ideal:
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“Be honest and straightforward. What was the challenge? What did you learn as a result? Apologize and talk about what you will do differently or ask for their advice if they have it on doing better. Then, make sure you report the results and changes.”

You’ll have to share the news eventually, and by being upfront with it, they won’t be surprised. Additionally, your board members can offer insights to help you overcome obstacles. They may be able to connect you with someone else who can help.

Your board members understand that things don’t always go according to plan. It’s okay! Your board can help you pull yourself up by your bootstraps and keep going for the good of the nonprofit.

Did you know your board of directors can also help you win grant funding?

Here’s how:

• By offering introductions to potential funders: At any given time, a funder may have thousands of applications for an open grant. Your board members can leverage their connections to make an introduction that can help you get your foot in the door. It’s not a guarantee of funding, but it is a nice way to differentiate yourself from the pack.
• By providing a sounding board: It can be easy to get carried away with applying for new grants. Your board can act as your sounding board. They provide the checks and balances. They may approach new funding opportunities with skepticism, and that’s a good thing! You want to be able to defend your funding strategy. You need to prove it’s aligned with your mission, it fits a need, and you have the resources to execute. You may need to table it until next year if you can't.
• By approving your strategy: Your board members review your overall strategy. They use their business acumen to identify gaps, look for opportunities, and provide well-meaning suggestions. They can also share if they believe you’re taking on too much and you need to focus your efforts better.

Your board isn’t just a governing body. Tap into their expertise to help fuel your funding strategy. You will notice a measurable difference when you leverage their guidance.

Your board of directors plays a vital role in your nonprofit’s operations. Your continued success depends on effective board engagement, which is why driving meaningful connections is essential.

In this article, we’ve explained how you can do this through:

• Sharing regular and timely updates
• Asking for guidance
• Building strong relationships
• Driving transparency

And don’t forget to check out what Instrumentl can offer you by signing up for a free, 14-day trial today!