Why board development matters: An infographic and guide for charity leaders

Are you a charity or not-for-profit board administrator seeking ways to strengthen your board’s effectiveness and impact? Robust board development is essential for equipping members with the knowledge and tools they need to fulfill their roles as stewards of your organisation. We have created an informative infographic, “Why board development matters”, which outlines key insights and actionable strategies for enhancing board development.

Whether you’re onboarding new members or looking to deepen your existing board’s engagement, learn how prioritising training and development can lead to better governance, clearer strategic direction and stronger advocacy for your mission.

Why board development is crucial for nonprofits

Board development plays a pivotal role in enhancing the effectiveness of nonprofit governance. By fostering continuous learning opportunities, boards can better understand their responsibilities, your organisation’s unique challenges and the broader environment in which you operate.

As Cheretta A. Clerkley, Executive Director at the Association for Positive Behavior Support, explains,

“Continuous and collective learning opportunities are extremely important to deepen board members’ understanding of the organisation, the environment in which your nonprofit operates and their roles and responsibilities. When your board has a better understanding of these topics, it allows more effectiveness and provides greater value to the organisation.”

Frequency of board training

Our recent survey of board administrators and leaders highlights that many nonprofits struggle with maintaining consistent board training. One third of organisations limit training to onboarding while 27% offer training as needed.

However, organisations that integrate training into their ongoing operations report stronger engagement and efficacy.

Mary Figueredo, Senior Executive Assistant at Wespath Benefits and Investments, emphasises the importance of consistent education, saying,

“We incorporate some kind of learning each time we meet. Bringing board members up to speed on how we work is important and ongoing.”

Challenges in board development

Nonprofit leaders cited several barriers when prioritising board training, including:

• Limited time (60%)
• Board member availability (47%)
• Board member engagement (33%)
• Limited budget (7%)
• Travel requirements (7%)

Despite these hurdles, this underscores the importance of making board development a strategic priority, as well-trained boards drive stronger organisational outcomes.

Sourcing board training

To overcome challenges, nonprofits rely on diverse strategies for sourcing training materials with 60% creating materials in-house, 20% using association/training provider resources and 13% buying third-party trainer-led content.

A top tip approach is to store training materials in centralised libraries in your board management software for future use, ensuring continuous development without increasing expenses.

Discover how to take your volunteer board to the next level with our peer-led guide designed specifically for mission-driven organisations. Packed with practical advice, useful tips and actionable strategies, this guide equips leaders with the tools they need to enhance governance, strengthen teamwork and address challenges with confidence. Download your board development guide today.

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Top training areas for board members

We also asked what topics charities and nonprofits focus on when training their boards, here’s what respondents told us:

• Governance (87%)
• Financial oversight (60%)
• Legal and regulatory compliance (53%)
• Strategic planning (40%)
• Compliance and ethics (40%)
• Cybersecurity (33%)
• Communications (33%)
• Organisational culture (33%)
• Fundraising and development (20%)
• Advocacy (20%)

Enhancing board development with technology

Technology offers organisations powerful tools to streamline board development. Solutions like BoardEffect provide centralised resource libraries, custom workflows and feedback mechanisms, ensuring board members have access to the resources they need to succeed.

Dottie Schindlinger, co-founder of BoardEffect and executive director of Diligent Institute, notes, “Having one central place where you can store education materials and then having a way to contact the board to let them know that it’s available is a great way to leverage technology for board development.”

Click here to download the infographic in pdf format.

Actionable steps to improve board development

Here are some things that you can implement to enhance board training and engagement:

1. Prioritise consistent training: Incorporate learning opportunities into regular board meetings or retreats. Regular training fosters ongoing engagement and ensures board members remain informed about critical issues.

2. Diversify training topics: Focus on areas such as governance, financial oversight and strategic planning to equip your board with comprehensive knowledge. Include emerging topics like cybersecurity and advocacy to stay ahead of challenges.

3. Leverage technology: Use board management solutions like BoardEffect to centralize resources, track participation and streamline communication. This reduces logistical challenges and improves access to training materials.

4. Engage board members in planning: Involve your board in strategic planning sessions to ensure their perspectives are reflected in your organisation’s priorities. This creates ownership and deepens their commitment to your mission.

5. Create opportunities for connection: Schedule retreats, social events or team-building activities to foster stronger relationships among board members. Collaborative boards are more effective in decision-making and problem-solving.

Final thoughts

Board development is not a one-time effort but a continuous process that drives organisational success. By investing in training and leveraging tools and strategies outlined in the infographic, leaders can create more informed and engaged boards.

As governance professionals, you hold the key to ensuring your board has the tools and knowledge it needs to lead. With the right focus on training and development, your board can become a driving force behind your organisation’s mission, guiding its growth and championing its impact in the community.

To explore how BoardEffect can help you streamline board development and governance, reach out today for more information. Let’s empower your board to lead with confidence and purpose.