What if your board members could do more than just fulfill their duties? What if they could energize your board fundraising<\/a>, amplify your cause, and mobilize your community? That\u2019s exactly what we and nonprofit expert Joan Garry from the Nonprofit Leadership Lab<\/a> envision in Building a Board of Ambassadors: A 6-Step Guide<\/a> workbook.<\/p>\n Building a strong nonprofit board is an organizational culture shift, one that moves your board from passive to results-driven.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s break down each of the six steps and how you can implement them to create a board that\u2019s aligned, energized, and ready to lead alongside you!<\/strong><\/p>\n Every high-impact nonprofit board starts with a strong foundation. These first steps will help you define clear nonprofit board responsibilities and bring together the right mix of people to support your mission with purpose and clarity.<\/p>\n If you want your nonprofit board members to act like ambassadors, you need to define what that means clearly on day one. Too often, nonprofit leaders hesitate to lay out clear board responsibilities. They fear deterring prospective members by being too prescriptive or asking too much, but clarity drives engagement and your mission forward.<\/p>\n Craft a board mission statement that answers: <\/strong>What do you want your board members to feel responsible for? What role should they play in advancing your mission beyond governance?<\/p>\n \u201cYour board member needs to be a connected, spirited representative of your organization. Why do they want to serve on your board in particular?\u201d \u2014 Joan Garry<\/em><\/p>\n Make a clear list of ongoing tasks once your board mission statement is clear<\/strong>: Define the core activities you expect your board to perform consistently. This can include:<\/p>\n \u201cWe want the board to reach out broadly into networks to invite people to get closer to the organization.\u201d \u2014 Joan Garry<\/em><\/p>\n Pro tip: <\/strong>Include these expectations in your board recruitment materials and onboarding packets to establish strong relationships from the outset.<\/p>\n Think like a coach building a team. A strong nonprofit board includes a mix of talents, lived experiences, and spheres of influence. It\u2019s not enough to have good intentions\u2014you need strategic, multidimensional capacity.<\/p>\n Look for individual strengths such as:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cBe sure to recruit members with different spheres of influence.\u201d \u2014 Joan Garry<\/em><\/p>\n A diverse board brings access to new communities and ideas. Other qualities of good board members, according to Joan, can include change management, leadership skills, and good communication. Recruiting strategically ensures your nonprofit board represents the full range of expertise and meets your organizational needs.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Once your board is in place, the next step is connection. By deepening your board members\u2019 understanding of your mission and encouraging close staff collaboration, you can build lasting engagement and support long-term board fundraising success.<\/p>\n When board members experience your mission firsthand, they become better equipped to engage in board fundraising and build meaningful relationships.<\/p>\n Ways to connect your board:<\/strong><\/p>\n The goal is to transform board members from informed observers into emotionally invested advocates. Your board needs more than updates\u2014they need to feel<\/em> the mission. That happens when you pair storytelling with immersive experiences and real-world context. Bring in guest speakers, invite mission-aligned conversations, and never assume your board\u2019s passion is on autopilot.<\/p>\n Joan\u2019s activation formula: Inform + Enrich + Engage = Ignite<\/strong><\/p>\n Pro tip: <\/strong>Plan and manage mission-focused board events using DonorPerfect\u2019s events management tool<\/a>. Track RSVPs, log interactions, and automate post-event follow-ups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cDonorPerfect is just easy. It will make life easier. Especially with relationships. Not only the building, but the tracking. Being able to get those letters out immediately, being able to link them to your events\u2014it\u2019s just an all-in-one great tool to use.\u201d \u2013 Susan S., Development Associate<\/em><\/p>\n Strong nonprofit boards thrive when they have solid working relationships with staff, especially when those relationships support shared board responsibilities around fundraising and advocacy<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cA thriving nonprofit has a one-to-one partnership mindset when it comes to the board.\u201d\u00a0 \u2014 Joan Garry<\/p>\n These intentional staff\u2013board relationships are operational and strategic. They allow for clear communication, aligned goals, and shared ownership of the mission. But here\u2019s the kicker: board members can\u2019t succeed without internal support. To act as ambassadors, they need tools, insights, and confidence \u2014 and it\u2019s the staff\u2019s role to provide those.<\/p>\n Pro tip: <\/strong>Create segmented lists and dynamic donor reports<\/a> that board members can access in real time, in alignment with your nonprofit\u2019s privacy policies and with role-based user permissions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n With a connected and informed board, it\u2019s time to focus on action and accountability. These final steps offer practical ways to train your nonprofit board, strengthen leadership, and sustain momentum through ongoing evaluation and intentional growth.<\/p>\n Most nonprofit board members are passionate about your cause but aren\u2019t trained fundraisers\u2014and that\u2019s okay. They can still be highly effective in board fundraising roles with the right preparation.<\/p>\n Start with simple confidence-building tasks:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cEach board member should be comfortable talking for 2 or 3 minutes about the organization and why it matters by sharing a brief impact story and an invitation to get involved.\u201d \u2014 Joan Garry<\/em><\/p>\n Are you looking for more ways to activate your board and transform members into a fundraising powerhouse? <\/strong>Check out our blog post: How to Engage Your Nonprofit Board in Fundraising and Major Gifts<\/a>.<\/p>\n A strong nonprofit board isn\u2019t something you build once and forget. It\u2019s a living, evolving part of your organization\u2014and maintaining it is one of the most important responsibilities. That means checking in regularly, evaluating what\u2019s working (and what\u2019s not), and continuing to recruit and train with purpose.<\/p>\n A healthy board is nurtured over time, with clear expectations, honest conversations, and a shared commitment to growth.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen evaluating your board, it is important to look at your board members as individuals and not as a collective. This allows you to ask the hard questions and identify the gaps.\u201d \u2014 Joan Garry<\/em><\/p>\n Recruitment is an ongoing process\u2014one that should always reflect the kind of board you need to fulfill your mission today and in the future. Consider board members who can support your mission in multiple ways<\/a> and how you might mobilize them.<\/p>\n Pro tip: <\/strong>Track board service hours to demonstrate how impactful their work is to your mission with DonorPerfect\u2019s volunteer management<\/a> tools.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A well-trained, well-supported nonprofit board can help your organization thrive, not just through oversight, but through advocacy and action. With this six-step framework and DonorPerfect\u2019s suite of board support tools, you can activate your nonprofit board members as true champions of your mission.<\/p>\n With intentional structure and the right tools, your board can become a dynamic force for advocacy, engagement, and fundraising.<\/p>\n Want to power up your nonprofit board\u2019s involvement in fundraising and engagement?<\/strong> Learn how DonorPerfect supports nonprofits with tools like event planning, reporting, and donor cultivation insights. See the DonorPerfect difference<\/a> today.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>What if I have a disengaged board member?<\/strong><\/p> Start with a one-on-one conversation. Ask the board member how they\u2019re feeling about their role and the organization. Offer alternative ways to contribute (e.g., volunteer at events or offer a skillset to help the organization). Sometimes, their lives just get busy for a little while. If they\u2019re no longer aligned, help them transition out respectfully.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t 2. <\/strong>What if board members aren\u2019t comfortable asking for money?<\/strong><\/p> Redefine fundraising as a team effort. Not everyone has to make the ask directly. They can host events<\/a>, make introductions, or write thank-you notes. Relational engagement counts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t 3. <\/strong>How can I make board meetings more engaging?<\/strong><\/p>Lay the groundwork for a purpose-driven nonprofit board\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Set expectations from the start<\/h3>\n
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Step 2: Recruit for diversity of skills and influence<\/h3>\n
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Inspire connection and activate your nonprofit board\u2019s role<\/h2>\n
Step 3: Connect the board to your mission<\/h3>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nStep 4: Foster staff-board partnerships<\/h3>\n
Pair up key roles:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Assign board actions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Request staff deliverables:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nEmpower your board to lead and grow\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Step 5: Let the board work, but train them first<\/h3>\n
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Step 6: Maintain and grow the board<\/h3>\n
Evaluate individual performance:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Grow with purpose:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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