How stronger governance supports stronger fundraising

Strong fundraising starts in the boardroom. When trustees are clear on their responsibilities, have easy access to the right materials and come prepared to engage with the decisions that shape your organization's financial future, the whole fundraising effort moves faster and further.

This month we're focusing on the governance foundations that make fundraising more effective. Explore what high-impact boards do differently with our guide to fundraising oversight, discover how BoardEffect's Resource Library can help keep fundraising materials easy to find, and see how McCoy College of Business Foundation put stronger governance to work for their fundraising mission.

What volunteer boards need to know about fundraising regulations

Fundraising is not just about momentum. It also depends on trustees understanding the rules, responsibilities and oversight expectations that come with every appeal, campaign and donor program.

Our article on fundraising regulations: what volunteer boards need to know offers a practical starting point for boards that want to ask sharper questions, improve oversight and stay focused on long-term trust.

How McCoy College of Business Foundation streamlined board prep with BoardEffect

For McCoy College of Business Foundation, last-minute changes to board documents meant reprinting large board packets, emailing materials wasn't working because files were too large, and board members in different locations struggled to access what they needed before meetings. BoardEffect replaced all of that with a single secure platform where everything is stored, searchable and accessible from anywhere, eliminating paper binders, overnight shipping charges and the admin burden that came with them.

"Using this platform has made the governance of our foundation easier, more transparent and more accessible to our members and staff. I highly recommend this product." — Cindy Fornash, Foundation Administrator, McCoy College of Business Foundation

Read the full story here.

How AI is changing the way boards work with minutes

Board minutes are one of the most important records a board creates, but reviewing, refining and finalising them can take significant time. This blog explores how AI innovations across BoardEffect can help boards streamline minute review, reduce administrative effort and focus more attention on the decisions that matter.

Read the full article here.

News and events

Upcoming events where you can visit our booth and connect with our team:

ASAP Administrative Professionals Conference (APC) September 13–16, 2026 | Nashville, TN

General Assembly of YMCAs September 17–19, 2026 | New Orleans, LA

Nonprofit Innovation & Optimization (NIO) Summit Live September 22–24, 2026 | Fort Worth, TX

Tech Forward Conference 2026 September 27–29, 2026 | Kansas City, MO

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

Upcoming seasonal events to celebrate with your board

August is a useful bridge between summer planning and the next stretch of fundraising activity. It can also give boards a timely reason to review campaign plans, trustee responsibilities and the materials people will need close at hand once the autumn push begins.

This month and next, you may want to plan around International Day of Charity on 6 September and Hispanic Heritage Month beginning on 15 September, especially if either creates a natural moment to connect your mission, community engagement and fundraising goals.

• Put fundraising readiness on the agenda: Use your next board meeting to review campaign goals, key risks and the decisions that need trustee input before the next appeal.
• Refresh the materials trustees rely on: Make sure board members can quickly find the latest campaign plans, donor messaging, board papers and supporting context in one place.
• Connect the moment to your mission: If your organisation is planning September outreach, use these awareness moments to help trustees reinforce impact, credibility and donor trust.

Our 2026 planning calendar brings key awareness days together in one place, making it easier to plan ahead and connect fundraising conversations to the dates your audience already recognizes. Download your free 2026 calendar today to start planning.

Storytelling for mission impact

Numbers without narrative don't inspire action, and stories without data don't build trust. In the latest Leading with Purpose podcast episode, Jennifer McKenzie of Organised Synergy and Dottie Schindlinger of Diligent Institute share how nonprofit boards can connect mission stories with meaningful metrics to strengthen fundraising, build stakeholder confidence and stay close to impact between meetings.

Listen here and wherever you find your podcasts, and thanks for taking the time to rate the show!

What's trending

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

• What are the hallmarks of a successful nonprofit?
• Board chair basics: What does it take to be the best? 
• Onboarding volunteer board directors: A fresh approach 
• Spend less time reworking minutes: The latest BoardEffect Minutes enhancements

Until next month

We hope this month’s resources help your board stay closer to the fundraising work that matters, without adding more admin to everyone’s plate.

As always, we’d love to hear how your board is evolving. Follow us and join the wider BoardEffect community on LinkedIn.