BoardEffect wins another award plus new AI guidance for boards

BoardEffect wins another award

We’re proud to share that BoardEffect has been named “Best for Quick Adoption” by Gartner’s Software Advice in the 2026 Board Management Software Awards, based entirely on verified customer reviews. Thank you to our customers for sharing your experience and helping us earn this recognition!

New AI guidance for boards

Fresh from Elevate 2026, our brand-new guide From AI talk to real impact: How today's leaders do more without adding headcount explores how boards can use AI responsibly to improve oversight, decision‑making and board effectiveness, without adding complexity.

And to help you activate your ambitions, don’t miss our AI action plan a practical worksheet to identify high‑impact use cases, define guardrails and move forward in 90 days with confidence.

Try BoardEffect GovernAI free for 90 days

See how AI helps your board save time and focus on strategic decisions with a 90‑day GovernAI free trial in BoardEffect. Use AI Smart Summary, Smart Prep and Smart Minutes to turn long board books into clear summaries, focus prep on what matters most, and create high‑quality minutes, all within BoardEffect. To get started, sign in to your BoardEffect account and look for the GovernAI trial experience, or learn more about how the trial works here.

How BoardEffect saved King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham from having to hire an additional administrative member of staff

King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham, which oversees a large and diverse group of schools, streamlined its governance operations by moving away from paper‑heavy, manual board processes and adopting BoardEffect. By centralising board books, documents and communication in one secure platform, the Foundation improved efficiency, strengthened confidentiality and increased engagement across its governing bodies. This has freed up valuable time for strategic oversight rather than administrative work.

“BoardEffect has potentially saved us from having to hire an additional administrative member of staff.”— Deborah Canton, Head of Governance, King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham

Read the full story here

News and events

[WEBINAR] Future-proof your board development: Skills, tools, and insights to strengthen your board for what’s next

Building a high-performing volunteer board doesn't happen by accident — it takes structure, intention and the right tools. Join us for "Future-Proof Your Board Development," our next webinar where governance professionals and leaders share practical strategies for developing, engaging and retaining mission-driven boards.

Register here and don’t worry if you can’t make it, we’ll send you the recording afterwards.

More webinars, all available to watch on demand:

• Beyond the budget: Smarter financial and risk oversight
• Getting your 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 board should know

Upcoming seasonal events to celebrate with your board

Seasonal events aren't just for the calendar, they help foster community engagement, build trust, educate the community and raise morale.

We’ve compiled a handy list of special events to make it easy to plan ahead and keep your board aligned with key moments throughout the year. Download your free 2026 calendar today to start planning.

Here are some events next month to celebrate with your board and take action on:

15 May: The GAAD Foundation takes the lead on Global Accessibility Awareness Day designed to encourage organizations and businesses to ensure that all users can have a first-rate digital experience when using the web. GAAD has tools and other resources to improve usability.

How to create successful onboarding for new board members

Listen to our latest Leading with Purpose episode on how to design successful orientation for new board members, guests Liz Thompson of Presbyterian Senior Care Network and Chandu Vemuri of Sun Prairie School District share practical, real-world guidance on designing effective board orientation programs that help new members understand their role, responsibilities and have impact from day one.

Find links to all our episodes here (and wherever you find your podcasts) and thanks for taking the time to rate the podcast!

What's trending

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

1. 15 strategic questions for volunteer boards to ask
2. Is AI a governance blind spot for nonprofit boards?
3. Why mission-driven organisations can’t afford to ignore AI governance

Take part in governance research

Have your voice heard in the 2026 Governance Outlook for Mission‑Driven Organisations, research led by Diligent Institute. Leaders are invited to share how they’re setting priorities, navigating risk and strengthening governance. Take the survey here.