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

Are you a nonprofit 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 organization. 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 prioritizing training and development can lead to better governance, clearer strategic direction and stronger advocacy for your mission.

Why board development matters for mission-driven organizations

Learning and development play a critical role in enhancing board effectiveness, equipping members with the skills and insight they need to effectively guide and oversee their organization.

“Continuous and collective learning opportunities are extremely important to deepen board members’ understanding of the organization, 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 organization.”

Cheretta Clerkley, MBA, Associate Vice President of Content and Co-Created Expertise, BoardSource

Frequency of board training

Our recent survey of nonprofit board administrators and leaders highlights that many nonprofits struggle with maintaining consistent board training. 35% of mission-driven organizations incorporate board training into onboarding or an annual event like a board retreat while 33% offer training as needed.

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

“We offer a lot of education around the different committees, expectations, what committee reports to the board should look like ... Bringing board members up to speed on how we work is important and ongoing. We incorporate some kind of learning each time we meet.” 

Mary Figueredo Senior Executive Assistant Wespath Benefits and Investments

Challenges in board development

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

• Board member availability 50%
• Board member engagement 50%
• Limited time 44%
• Limited engagement 34%
• Resistance to change 16%

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

Top 10 things nonprofits are training board members on

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

• Governance 44%
• Strategic planning 41%
• Organizational culture 34%
• Cybersecurity 31%
• Legal and regulatory compliance 28%
• Financial oversight 22%
• AI/compliance and ethics 19%
• Community engagement and outreach 13%
• Communications/advocacy 9%
• Fundraising and development 6%

Enhancing board development with technology

BoardEffect is built to support the entire leadership team’s development and, ultimately, its effectiveness.

Centralized resource libraries, AI-powered customized workflows and surveys and polls for gathering feedback make sure training and development are always on the agenda.

“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. Having an organized library of content, so that when someone is looking for something specific and getting ready to have a conversation at a board meeting, it’s easy to find.”

Dottie Schindlinger, Co-founder of Board Effect and Executive Director of Diligent Institute

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. Prioritize 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 organization’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 organizational success. By investing in training and leveraging tools and strategies outlined in the infographic, nonprofit leaders can create more informed and engaged boards.

As nonprofit 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 organization’s mission, guiding its growth and championing its impact in the community.

See how BoardEffect, a Diligent brand, can help you and your board get on the same page to meet your mission by reaching out today.