Is your board ready for the unexpected, customizable reporting has arrived and more

Listen to our "Leading with purpose" podcast episodes all about board development here.

Smarter planning beyond budgets

Boards often focus on what's in the budget — but what about the important stuff that isn’t? Things like leadership changes, crisis planning or new regulations can generate unexpected costs that quickly add up.

Need help getting started? Check out our tips for why planning for non-budget items is just as important as managing the numbers. And we have a comprehensive guide for the steps to take to spot and plan for these often-overlooked priorities. It’s a great way to keep your board ready for whatever comes next.

Build smarter reports that reflect what matters most

BoardEffect’s Customizable Reporting gives administrators the flexibility to build reports that reflect the unique needs and strategic priorities of their organization. With this feature, you can create custom reports using the metrics and fields that matter most to your board.

Use the customizable reporting feature to create your own custom reports and access real-time data that can lead to more effective strategic planning and decision-making. Get detailed insights on board member engagement, term tracking and more, all in one easy-to-use dashboard.

Starfish Family Services sees board involvement soar with a centralized solution 

Starfish Family Services, serving over 3,000 children, struggled with manual board book preparation, inefficient meeting logistics and difficulty tracking participation for their 21-member board.

Implementing BoardEffect has centralized their resources, streamlined board meetings and improved compliance reporting. Another huge outcome? Increased board member engagement. The software’s meeting features facilitating holding hybrid meetings have seen a big rise in attendance while easy access materials and communication through BoardEffect has improved board member accountability.

“I use BoardEffect every day because there's always something going on with our board and it allows us to keep our board members engaged because they don't have to wait for the material they need." - Susan Bovair, Executive Assistant to the CEO and Board Liaison, Starfish Family Services

Find out more.

News and Events 

9 – 12 August 2025: The American Society of Association Executives’ Annual Meeting & Exposition will be held in Los Angeles, offering the chance for association professionals to network, learn and make connections.

Catch up on some of our recent webinars, available to watch on-demand:

• Getting your nonprofit board on the same page: Strategies for alignment, communication & collaboration
• Developing high-impact boards: Skills, strategies & tools you need
• Navigating AI risks & governance: What your nonprofit board should know

More nonprofit events for your calendar for the rest of the year.

Upcoming seasonal events to celebrate with your board

Here are 3 fun ideas to celebrate National Nonprofit Day on August 17:

1. “Behind-the-Scenes” day of impact: Invite supporters, community members or partners for a rare look behind the curtain. Host live or virtual tours of program sites, a recorded video series, or even a “staff Q&A panel” on social media, allowing the public to see the direct day-to-day impact and get to know the team driving the mission. This transparency both engages current supporters and may spark curiosity in new audiences.
2. Nonprofit skills-sharing marathon: Organize a day where staff and volunteers share their unique skills—from grant-writing to art therapy, digital marketing or language lessons—in free online or in-person micro-workshops for the community. This highlights your staff and volunteers’ diverse talents, gives back valuable knowledge and showcases how community empowerment is central to the cause.
3. “Thank You” story blitz: Dedicate National Nonprofit Day to a coordinated celebration of gratitude across every channel: release a series of social media posts spotlighting volunteers, donors and partners; share short video testimonials from beneficiaries; and offer personalized shout-outs in newsletters or e-cards. Invite supporters to share their own reasons for giving back, for positivity and recognition.

26 August: Women’s Equality Day, a day to recognize how women bring unique perspectives to leadership. Civic education helps donors and supporters understand their rights and how governments work with nonprofits to create better communities for women and all people. Celebrate this day by initiating a mentorship or internship program for women or girls, setting up a forum to get female perspectives, or encouraging women to volunteer for your organization.

More special events to celebrate this year here and download the full seasonal calendar for free here to share with your board.

Celebrating our Community Champions

Congratulations to Cheretta Clerkley from APBS! Cheretta is being recognized this month as one of our Community Champions.

Would you like to nominate someone for our Diligent Community Champions? Nominate your champion here!

What's trending

Our pick of the newest and most popular items on our blog this month:

• Printable board meeting minutes template
• 10 ways to find board members for your mission-driven organization
• Experts tell us about board engagement

Give your feedback and win!

We love to hear what leaders think about issues and key topics that affect mission-driven organizations. Please take a moment to fill out our latest quick survey on the topic of budgeting challenges for the chance to win a $50 gift card!