Nonprofit board meetings are essential to governance—but too often, they fall flat. Instead of sparking collaboration and decision-making, they become a cycle of updates, reports, and disengagement.
In a recent episode of The Nonprofit Show featuring Boardable, Chief Product Officer Cody Bender joined the conversation to discuss how nonprofits can reimagine their board meeting culture to drive greater impact. His insights are a must-hear for executive directors, board chairs, and governance leaders aiming to make the most of their board’s time and talent.
The Problem: Too Many Meetings, Too Few Decisions
“We’ve seen boards spend precious time on updates instead of decisions.”
When meetings are designed primarily for information-sharing, board members become passive participants. The key to revitalizing engagement? Shift the focus to strategic decision-making and meaningful discussion.
1. Define the Purpose of Every Meeting
“Every meeting should be designed with intentionality.”
Start by clarifying the objective: Is this about alignment, discussion, or decision-making? Trying to do all three in one session often leads to confusion and low energy.
Actionable Tip:
Label agenda items as “For Information,” “For Discussion,” or “For Decision.” This simple framework creates clarity and sets expectations.
2. Engagement Begins Before the Meeting
Effective board engagement doesn’t start when the meeting is called to order—it begins during the planning phase.
Cody highlighted the importance of pre-meeting preparation. Tools like Boardable’s Agenda Builder and Discussions allow leaders to share materials in advance and gather input asynchronously. This ensures more inclusive participation and maximizes time during the actual meeting.
3. Track Engagement Like Any Other Key Metric
“Engagement is a data point, and we should treat it that way.”
By monitoring attendance, participation, and task completion, nonprofits can identify patterns early. A disengaged board member may not be apathetic—they might need more clarity, recognition, or support.
Digital board platforms can make it easy to track engagement trends and surface them to board leaders.
4. The Meeting Is Just One Touchpoint
Cody reminded listeners that the board meeting shouldn’t be the only time members interact with the organization.
A shared portal or board hub—like what Boardable offers—helps members stay connected, access resources, and collaborate between meetings. The continuous connection drives stronger alignment and accountability.
5. Keep Your Meeting Culture Evolving
“It’s not about being perfect—it’s about getting better over time.”
Cody encouraged nonprofit leaders to regularly reflect on what’s working—and what’s not. Gathering feedback, rotating facilitators, or adding a mission-aligned icebreaker are all simple ways to improve meeting culture.
Watch the Full Interview
Watch Cody’s full conversation on The Nonprofit Show to dive deeper into these ideas.
Final Thoughts: Turn Meetings Into Momentum
Board meetings shouldn’t feel like a chore. With the right structure, preparation, and mindset, they can become the engine for mission-driven progress.
At Boardable, we support thousands of organizations in transforming how their boards work—starting with how they meet. Start a free trial of Boardable today to learn more!
