When you picture a well-designed product, your mind might go to an iPhone, a sleek webpage, or a vibrant social media app. But design isn’t just about shiny surfaces or eye-catching layouts—it’s about how something works (to paraphrase Steve Jobs). Well-designed software products make work more intuitive, bring people together, create shared understanding, and reduce barriers. As we often like to say on product teams, it can give you superpowers.
At Boardable, we believe nonprofit software design deserves the same care and polish as tools for for-profits. After all, mission-driven organizations need intuitive, reliable tools to amplify their impact—not more headaches from clunky, outdated systems.
Why Design Matters for Nonprofits
Have you ever used an app and have the feeling that it, “just works”? That if you need to find something, you can just follow your first instinct and it will likely be there? That’s the hallmark of thoughtful design. It’s not just about looking good—it’s about making things work better.
For nonprofits, this is especially important. Running a nonprofit board involves juggling tasks like scheduling meetings, preparing board packets, tracking decisions, managing membership changes, and securely sharing (or not sharing) documents. The complexity only grows when board members are using different tools and software environments. Without well-designed software, you’re left piecing together workarounds, dealing with forgotten passwords, and wasting time on setup issues.
That’s where Boardable’s nonprofit software design comes in. Our mission is to simplify board management by creating a platform that works the way nonprofits do—intuitively, seamlessly, and with their unique needs in mind.
Bringing Consumer-Grade Design to Nonprofits
Over the last 13 years, I’ve worked as a product designer for a variety of start-ups, designing software tools for both private for-profit companies and government entities. No matter the audience, I’ve always aspired to create “consumer-grade user experience” with “industrial-grade capability”. This principle means making tools as polished and intuitive as the best consumer apps while ensuring they’re robust enough for the job.
Unfortunately, nonprofits often hvae to compromise on design because of limited budgets or resources. At Boardable, we reject the idea that nonprofits should have to settle for less. Nonprofits deserve tools that are just as powerful and user-friendly as those designed for large corporations—and we’re building those tools.
How Boardable Designs for Nonprofits
When I joined Boardable as a Senior Product Designer, I was excited to dive into the world of nonprofit board management. From day one, I knew this company shared my commitment to quality and user-centric design. We’re not just creating software; we’re building tools that help nonprofits thrive.
This fall, we launched the Boardable Design Partners Program, inviting real customers to collaborate with us. These users share their insights, test new designs, and provide feedback on what works—and what doesn’t. Listening to their stories and understanding their challenges has been invaluable. Great design starts with empathy, and these conversations ensure we’re solving the right problems in the right ways.
The Future of Nonprofit Software Design
Our work at Boardable is just beginning. Nonprofits do incredible, mission-driven work, and they deserve software that supports their efforts without adding unnecessary complexity. By keeping user needs at the center of our design process, we aim to create tools that help nonprofits focus less on managing technology and more on driving their missions forward.
Great design isn’t just for-profits—it’s for everyone. At Boardable, we’re proud to be leading the way in nonprofit software design, creating tools that truly make a difference.
Ready to simplify your nonprofit’s board management with thoughtful design? Discover how Boardable can help your organization thrive.
