Nonprofit boards are expected to recruit strong leaders, stay engaged, govern well, and support fundraising — often without a clear system to guide the work.

Here’s a practical guide with templates to get you started!

Our partners at Cerini & Associates have just released the 2026 Nonprofit Trends Guide!

The nonprofit sector is entering 2026 facing economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, evolving donor expectations, and rapid advances in technology.

BellesBoard President & Co-founder Christine Deska is featured providing leading edge board governance information. 

Inside the Guide:
• 2026 economic outlook for nonprofits
• Fundraising and donor trends
• Marketing and communications shifts
• Board leadership and governance trends
• HR and workforce challenges
• Back-office automation and efficiency
• AI trends and responsible use
• Insurance and risk management updates

CLICK HERE to view this virtual resource!

Our partners at Cerini & Associates have just released the 2025 Nonprofit Fundraising Guide!

This comprehensive virtual guide is chock full of key insights around:

• Fundraising Trends
• Giving statistics
• Giving Tuesday strategies
• Leveraging board members
• Using AI for fundraising & events

CLICK HERE to view this virtual resource!

From the comprehensive Bank of America Study of Philanthropy: Charitable Giving by Affluent Households, we know a lot about the relationship between nonprofits and prosperous, charitable women: 

1. Significantly more affluent women volunteer compared to affluent men. 
2. Significantly fewer affluent women who volunteer serve on nonprofit boards. 

When you couple this disconnect with the fact that 85% of household charitable giving decisions are made or influenced by affluent women, it begs the question: With so many capable, philanthropic, and financially successful women serving organizations as volunteers, why are women still so underrepresented in the nonprofit board room? 

The Business Case for More Women on Boards

 So, why is it important that we have more women on boards? It is unfortunate to have to begin by answering this question in 2025, but the current political climate stands counter to the evidence: that policies of inclusion and board diversity, particularly around gender, truly help nonprofits maximize mission impact. 

The business case is also clear: There is definitive evidence that policies that build board diversity—particularly as it relates to gender—truly help nonprofits maximize mission impact. Consider the business case for commercial enterprises: 

• Higher annual returns. The Credit Suisse Institute has found that companies with the highest representation of women on their boards have generated higher compound annual returns in their share price since 2010, compared to those with the lowest board diversity. 
• Financial outperformance. McKinsey found top-quartile organizations with the most executive-level gender diversity worldwide had 39% greater likelihood of financial outperformance vs. their peers. 
• Higher credit quality. Moody’s reports that companies with higher proportions of women on their boards achieve higher credit ratings than those with lower representation by women. 

Why Nonprofits Need to Pay Attention 

Nonprofits employ significantly more women than men—an estimated 70-75% of workers in the nonprofit sector are women. Do those statistics align with the percentage of women serving on nonprofit boards? No. In fact, Harvard Business Review reports that only 52% of nonprofit board members are women. In larger organizations with budgets of more than $25 million, that percentage drops to only 44% of board seats occupied by women. 

So, let’s dig deeper into the specific numbers reported by Bank of America: 

• 42% of affluent women volunteer vs. 33% of affluent men
• 16% of those women volunteers serve on boards vs. 30% of the men 

Missing the mark on board diversity can damage a nonprofit’s credibility and even cause mission impact to suffer. Diversity is closely related to ideals of fairness, according to DEI strategist Sahar Andrade: “When nonprofit boards do not reflect the diverse communities they serve, it creates a disconnect and can sew mistrust.” 

A diverse board asks different questions and approaches challenges from a range of perspectives. 

When organizations miss the mark on board diversity, their credibility and mission impact is likely to suffer. Sahar Andrade points out in this Forbes piece that, “When nonprofit boards do not reflect the diverse communities they serve, it creates a disconnect and can sew mistrust.” 

Don Kramer illustrates this point in an article where he highlights Jane Scaccetti’s experience on a board discussing the features it could provide and promote for a 24-hour towing service for stranded motorists. 

While the male board members focused on company repair and towing capabilities, Scaccetti was able to bring her lived experience to the table and point out that most women would consider their safety first in the case of a broken-down vehicle and then prioritize factors such as a well-lit lot, security cameras and transportation to get home while her car was being repaired. 

The Reality of Our Shared Experience as Women 

My 7-year-old daughter recently asked me, “Why does the school nurse only call mommies and not any daddies?” (She has already figured out that being the first to volunteer to escort her germ-filled friends to the nurse’s office gets her out of class very often!😄) 

I share that because, even at a school with majority two-parent households and high parent engagement, the Lionshare of housework, emotional labor, and child rearing still falls mostly on women who are also working full-time. 

And sorry (not sorry) to have to bring up the viral TikTok #manvsbear video where seven out of eight women said they’d rather run into a BEAR in the woods than a MAN…but it’s the quickest way to make an important point. 

This sounds a bit odd at first until you realize that 30 per cent of women aged 15 and older have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in our lives, according to UN Women. (Note: This figure does not even include sexual harassment!) 

The woman’s perspective is unique (sometimes due to unfortunate experiences) and needed more than ever on nonprofit boards, as emphasized by the BoA statistics. But this is not limited to safety or security. 

To share a brief personal anecdote, as a member of the board of Hunger Solutions New York (HSNY), I am proud to have played a small part in helping get statewide universal free school meals passed in NYS in January 2025. 

But for me, as a single working mother, this achievement was just as much about the additional morning childcare (that many working parents need desperately) as well as the additional nourishment that will benefit children throughout the state. 

I was able to share this sentiment and my perspective with my fellow board members as well as on LinkedIn more broadly to get more buy-in and grow awareness of HSNY’s important mission. 

How to Be Intentional in Recruiting More Women for Your Board 

Companies have learned that if they explore options for flexible work arrangements, they can retain top talent among women (without compromising quality or productivity). Nonprofit organizations need to do the same, reimagining how they can build a governance pipeline that includes more women. 

Just as we prioritize keeping women in the workforce, re-engaging women in the workforce, and supporting women in leadership roles, we must do the same when considering how to better attract affluent, educated, well-connected women to nonprofit board service. 

4 Action Steps Your Nonprofit Can Take 

The good news is that we know the pool of potential women board members is a big one. The challenging part is connecting the dots to your organization and its mission. Here’s what your organization can do. 

1. Develop an Active Board Matrix 

A proven best practice in overall board development is to conduct consistent board matrix exercises to ensure that your organization has a current and comprehensive understanding of your members’ skill sets, experience, social capital, leadership styles, giving preferences, representation and more. 

2. Know What Causes Resonate 

The Bank of America study offers a roadmap to connect your organization to potential women board candidates. 

• Women are more likely than men (24% and 17%, respectively) to support women’s and girls’ causes and/or organizations; this extends to reproductive health and rights, in particular. 
• Women are significantly more likely to say they sometimes or always give because they want to support racial justice compared to men (50% and 38%, respectively). 
• Women are significantly more likely to indicate that they, or their advisor/staff, monitor or evaluate the impact of their giving compared to men (24% and 18%, respectively). 

So, if your mission relates to women’s and girls’ causes, reproductive health, or racial justice, you have an even greater opportunity to appeal to prospective women volunteers in your existing pipeline or to engage new ones by telling your impact story in new ways. 

3. Professionalize the Perception of Your Board 

Your potential board members—the affluent women we’re missing in leadership—are busy people, with multiple responsibilities and obligations. Anything that can save them time and increase their efficiency will be seen as a benefit. Two suggestions: 

• Improve your recruitment process. Offer an intuitive board portal and mobile app for ease of connectivity, communication and engagement. 
• Recommit to creating a culture of inclusion. Make new board members feel a sense of belonging through a welcoming, organized, and informative onboarding process. 

4. Be Relationship-Focused, Not Just Fundraising-Focused 

When it comes to strategic relationship-building and donor engagement, board members are usually underutilized. At board retreats, I often introduce a relationship-building worksheet that asks board and committee members to list their “top three social circles” and “top three possible partner company introductions.” This exercise also prompts members to remember “their why” regarding why the nonprofit’s mission initially resonated with them and why it still does now. 

The result is typically a plethora of excitement around the untapped connections and networks with the potential to help the organization grow its fundraising, visibility, and impact. 

The Time is Now 

If your organization has been kicking the can down the road or struggling to crack the code on building a board that is engaged and is representative of the communities you serve, let this be an additional nudge to prioritize your efforts to include well-qualified women on your board. 

It’s worth noting that the overall face of America is rapidly changing. The United States is expected to have a majority minority population by 2044, according to U.S. Census Bureau projections. Couple that with Gen Z in the workforce (and serving on junior boards), plus five generations interacting daily, and it’s clear the workplace is growing more diverse every year. 

When I was in business school, I learned a pertinent takeaway: It might take slightly longer to reach a decision but having a more diverse group of perspectives and expertise results in a more thorough and thoughtful consensus. 

A board portal can significantly improve attendance and participation for a nonprofit board of directors by addressing key challenges like communication, accessibility, and engagement. Here’s how: 

Centralized Information Hub 

Board members are busy people. They often have full-time careers, and may also serve on multiple boards. When they do engage in board activity, it is imperative that they can access the information they need quickly, without having to search through emails, texts, or both.  

Key points: 

• Easy Access to Documents: Board members can access agendas, meeting minutes, policies, and reports in one place, reducing last-minute confusion or missing information. 
• Consistency: Ensures everyone is working with the most updated version of documents, which encourages preparation and meaningful participation. 

Improved Scheduling 

Board portals typically offer a centralized, shareable calendar. By providing board members with a calendar of upcoming board and committee meetings, it is easy to plan for future events and avoid potential scheduling conflicts with other personal or professional responsibilities.  

Key points: 

• Integrated Calendar Features: Many portals sync with personal calendars, sending automated reminders about upcoming meetings. 
• Doodle-like Scheduling Tools: Some platforms help find meeting times that work best for everyone, minimizing scheduling conflicts. 

Remote Participation 

Virtual meetings are commonplace today – and for good reasons. Virtual meetings save time, and enable talented individuals to serve on boards, who might otherwise be unable to do so. Another main benefit of virtual meetings is that they can be recorded, thereby enabling individuals to participate, albeit passively, at a later date. 

Key points: 

• Virtual Meeting Integration: Many portals support video conferencing tools (like Zoom or Microsoft Teams), enabling participation from anywhere. 
• Accessibility: Members who can’t attend in person can stay involved, which is particularly beneficial for geographically diverse boards. 

Enhanced Communication 

A board portal makes it easy to comment and collaborate on topics between meetings. Instead of having to arrange a conference call, or send a group email, folloe-up items can be posted directly to the board portal.  

Key Points: 

• Message Boards and Chat Features: Enable discussions outside formal meetings, fostering ongoing dialogue and collaboration. 
• Real-Time Updates: Instant notifications for changes or urgent updates keep members informed and engaged. 

Encourages Accountability 

A board’s effectiveness is directly related to the support provided by, and participation of, its members. A board portal enables the board chair and executive director to easily track board member participation in board activities, and also assign and monitor tasks given to board members.   

Key points: 

• Attendance Tracking: Some portals allow the organization to track attendance patterns and follow up with members who miss meetings. 
• Task Management Tools: Board members can receive, track, and complete assigned tasks, ensuring they remain actively involved in board activities. 

Streamlined Voting and Decision-Making 

Participation is increased when people know that their input is requested. If it is easy to solicit board member opinions, it is more likely that a board chair or executive director will do so. A board portal can also improve decision-making by organizing board member responses in one place. 

Key points: 

• E-Voting Capabilities: Members can vote on issues even if they’re not physically present, which reduces delays in decision-making. 
• Polls and Surveys: Allow quick input from members on non-critical decisions, promoting a sense of inclusion and responsiveness. 

Fosters Engagement Through Analytics 

It is a fact that people are more engaged when they know others are aware of their participation. A board portal provides is an opportunity for board members to not only increase participation in board activities, but also demonstrate their engagement in the organization’s mission to others. to others. 

Key points: 

• Usage Metrics: Admins can track how often members log in, view documents, or participate in discussions, identifying areas for increased engagement. 
• Feedback Tools: Regularly collect feedback on board operations to adjust processes and improve member satisfaction. 

Time Efficiency 

A board portal improves overall efficiency both before, and after, board meetings.  

Key Points: 

• Pre-Meeting Preparation: Automated agendas and reports provide members with adequate preparation time, leading to more productive and focused discussions. 
• Post-Meeting Summaries: Easily accessible action points and minutes keep members aligned and motivated. 

Summary 

By making meetings more accessible, communication more effective, and tasks easier to manage, a board portal can encourage active participation and higher attendance rates for nonprofit boards. 

Leveraging board members for relationship-building and fundraising is a strategic approach for nonprofit organizations.

Board members are an often underutilized and untapped resource – that’s why we hosted a webinar called “Stop Leaving Money on the Table” focused on a variety of indirect tactics where board members can be activated.

Here’s 10 top ways to do this effectively:

1. Recruit Fundraising-Oriented Board Members:
Ensure that when recruiting new board members, fundraising is clearly communicated as part of their role. Look for individuals with strong networks and a passion for your cause.

2. Set Clear Expectations:
Clearly outline responsibilities in board member agreements, including targets and types of involvement, such as event hosting, personal asks, or introductions to potential donors.

3. Provide Training and Support:
Offer training sessions to equip board members with the skills needed for effective fundraising, such as making a pitch, cultivating donors, and building relationships. We at BellesBoard provide various templates and materials via our AI-Powered Fundraising Coach to help them feel comfortable and confident in fundraising situations.

4. Leverage Personal Networks:
Encourage board members to tap into their networks for potential donors, sponsors, and partners. Provide them with tools like personalized outreach materials or event invitations they can share.

5. Engage in Stewardship Activities:
Involve board members in donor recognition and stewardship activities. This can include thank-you calls, writing personal notes, or attending donor appreciation events.

6. Host Events:
Use board members to host fundraising events at their homes or businesses, or to sponsor tables at galas and other events. This can help introduce new people to your organization in a personal and intimate setting.

7. Make Personal Asks:
Board members can make significant contributions by personally asking their peers and networks to support the organization. They can also accompany staff on donor visits.

8. Recognition and Appreciation:
Regularly acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of board members in fundraising activities. Recognize their contributions in newsletters, at events, and during board meetings.

9. Provide Access to Resources:
Equip board members with digital tools and platforms that make it easy to share information about the organization and facilitate donations.

10. Regular Communication:
Keep board members informed about fundraising goals, successes, and challenges. Regular updates in a central secure portal (like BellesBoard!) will help maintain their engagement and allow them to see the impact of their efforts.

By involving board members in these ways, nonprofits can expand their reach, build stronger relationships with donors, and ultimately increase their fundraising success.

BellesBoard’s integration with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge NXT provides a solution for connecting board members, fundraising staff and donors/prospects around all of the tactics above in an intuitive way. To learn more, click here.

Nonprofit organizations play a vital role in the fabric of today’s society. In one way or another, nonprofit organizations want to change the world for the better. Those are not just words. As stated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to qualify as a nonprofit, an organization must serve the public good in some way.

According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS), there are more than 1.8 million nonprofit organizations in the United States, including public charities, private foundations, chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations, and civic leagues. 

With these statements as a backdrop, it is a “no-brainer” to take advantage of anything that helps nonprofits increase the amount of good they do to improve the lives of millions.  One of the most effective ways to do this is using a comprehensive, yet easy-to-use board portal.

The remainder of this article will identify nine ways that nonprofit organizations benefit from using a board portal.

1. Fundraising – For-profit organizations have systems in place to sell their products and services. The better the product or service, the greater the revenue. Nonprofit organizations must have a similar mindset. Nonprofit organizations must also have systems in place to plan, execute, and measure their fundraising efforts. 
2. Board Engagement – A board portal creates an environment for board members to be more involved in the mission of the organization, beyond attending board and committee meetings.  Here are two examples. Board members are busy people. Anything that saves them time is valuable. A board portal puts all relevant information in one place – easy to find, and eliminating searching through emails. Secondly, a good board portal should also have a mobile app, so board members have access to everything they need 24/7. 
3. Mission Sustainability – I refer to organizations that do not have a board portal as the “lost and Found department. Board rosters change every year. Without a board portal, institutional knowledge is ”lost” when members cycle off the board. Similarly, when new members join the board, that knowledge is not always “found”.  
4. Increase Organizational Performance – A board portal improves organizational performance in several ways. Here are just two. A board portal serves as the “single source of truth” for board information. By organizing current governance documents in a centralized location, better decision-making will occur, as well as more informed advice provided. Secondly, board members are more productive when required information is easily, and quickly, available when needed. 
5. Increase Constituent Satisfaction – If a board portal, as described above, helps improve mission impact, then it stands to reason that the people served by the organization will likewise benefit. Increased financial stability means more people can be served, and for a longer period. It is more likely that those served will stand a better chance of receiving assistance going forward as the sustainability of the organization increases.
6. Save Administrative Time – A board portal provides a better way to manage meetings, events, and governance documents. Eliminate spreadsheets, paper, scanning, and printing by organizing all relevant application process information in a centralized portal and mobile device.  Streamlines and improves communication with the Nominating Committee 
7. Recruiting New Board Members – As organizations look to recruit new board members, the potential candidates are younger, and more comfortable with tools. They expect that an organization will have tools and technology to help them fulfill their expected responsibilities. In fact, not have access to a board portal will be seen as deterrent to joining 
8. Convenience – A portal enables members to attend board and committee meetings remotely when it is not convenient to attend in person. A board portal also enables an organization to retain key talent if an individual relocates because all board information is available in a secure environment in the cloud.
   Documents that require a signature can be done electronically, thereby eliminating the need to print and scan documents.
9. Security – aboard portal is more secure that printing board packets of emailing documents. Information is available on a secure server that is only accessible with a unique login. Information is backed up nightly

Summary
The above information is by no means a complete list of the benefits available to an organization. Feel free to contact Frank Orzo at forzo@bellesboard.com if you wish to discuss any of this information in more detail.

Using a board portal can significantly improve the recruitment process for new nonprofit board members. This happens in two distinct ways. A board  portal: 

• Increases the likelihood that an individual will want to join the board
• Supports more efficiency in your recruitment process. 

“Professionalize the Perception of Your Board” 

Potential board members are typically busy people, with multiple responsibilities and obligations. Anything that can save these individuals time and increase their efficiency is going to be seen as a benefit. In fact, the absence of a board portal will be seen as an impediment when an individual is considering joining aboard. 

Ray Mohler, President of the Little Saint Nick Foundation, said having a board portal in place is a key factor in a new board member’s decision to join his  organization. 

Another way that a board portal can be useful in an organization’s recruitment efforts involves facilitating member engagement.  

Since members do not engage with board activity on a regular basis, it is important that when a board member needs to find information, they can do so quickly, without having to search through emails, files, and paper documents. Showing a potential recruit how easy it is to find information will be another attraction when considering joining the board. 

Also, as boards look to recruit new, and younger members, these individuals will typically expect that the organization is using technology to make their involvement as efficient as possible. 

Obviously, a new board member must relate to and embrace the organization’s mission. Demonstrating that the organization also operates efficiently and professionally will further increase the likelihood that an individual will want to join the board.

Here are some specific benefits that a board portal provides in the recruitment of new members. 

1. Centralized Information: A board portal provides a centralized platform where all relevant information about the organization, including its mission, vision, strategic goals, financial reports, and governance  documents can be stored, and accessed. This makes it easier for potential board members to learn about the organization and its  activities, thereby facilitating the recruitment process. 
2. Document Sharing and Collaboration: Board portals enable seamless document sharing and collaboration among board members and potential recruits. Organizations can share board meeting agendas, minutes, and other important documents with prospective board members, allowing them to get a better understanding of the organization’s operations and governance practices. 
3. Secure Communication: Board portals offer secure communication channels for discussions and interactions between current board members and potential recruits. Organizations can use these channels to communicate with prospective board members, answer their questions, and provide them with additional information about the organization and its board structure. 
4. Customized Access Levels: Board portals allow organizations to set customized access levels for different users, including potential board  members. This ensures that sensitive information is protected while still providing potential recruits with access to relevant documents and resources needed to make informed decisions about joining the board. 
5. Virtual Meetings and Presentations: Board portals often include features for hosting virtual meetings and presentations. Organizations can use  these features to conduct virtual interviews with potential board members, showcase presentations about the organization’s mission and activities, and facilitate discussions about the role and expectations of board membership. 
6. Tracking and Reporting: Board portals provide tools for tracking recruitment activities and generating reports on the status of board recruitment efforts. Organizations can use these tools to monitor the  progress of recruitment campaigns, track interactions with potential recruits, and evaluate the effectiveness of different recruitment strategies. 

Increase the Overall Efficiency of Your Recruitment Process

Here are some specific examples of how it does so:

1. Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity: By streamlining the recruitment process and providing easy access to relevant information and resources, board portals can help nonprofit organizations save time and resources while improving its overall efficiency and productivity. 
2. Define Board Member Profiles: A board portal enables the organization to outline the skills, expertise, and attributes needed in potential board members. This can help in targeting individuals who possess the specific qualities needed to support the organization’s mission and goals. 
3. Offer Board Training and Orientation: A board portal will enable the organization to offer comprehensive training and orientation sessions to familiarize new board members. This can help onboard new members more effectively and ensure they are well-prepared to contribute to the board’s work. 
4. Cultivate Relationships: A board portal can be used to build strong relationships with potential board members over time by involving them in volunteer opportunities, committee work, or other roles within the organization. This can help cultivate their interest in board service and  demonstrate the value of their involvement. 
5. Provide Ongoing Support and Recognition: A board portal makes the experience of supporting the organization’s mission more rewarding and satisfying. A positive board culture and supportive environment can help attract and retain new members. 

Summary 

By implementing these strategies, nonprofit organizations can enhance their recruitment efforts and attract qualified individuals who are passionate about advancing the organization’s mission and making a positive impact in the community. For more information, schedule a BellesBoard demo or contact Frank Orzo, Co-founder of BellesBoard and Nonprofit Sector Strategies PBC, at 516-902-4638, or forzo@bellesboard.com.

Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the leading provider of software for powering social impact, today announced the newest cohort of participants in its Social Good Startup Program.

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