Why Most Nonprofit Boards Are Underutilized
When a board is fully engaged it’s a super‑power for any nonprofit. Yet far too many boards hover at the edges, confined to quarterly meetings and ceremonial or even symbolic votes. The underlying problem though that we’ve seen isn’t usually apathy; it’s actually structure. Most boards are underutilized because they lack a few essentials:
1. Mismatched (or Missing) Expectations
Most people will join a nonprofit board with good intentions but little clarity about what “good” looks like. One board member thinks the job is to show up, vote, and go home; another assumes it means writing a personal check; a third expects to leverage their network but never gets asked. Predictably, no one is really satisfied.
Start by spelling it out on paper and out loud as soon as you can. If a board member is new to an organization, they will typically never be more excited or energized about joining the board than immediately after they join. A concise agreement that names meeting attendance, committee service, annual giving goals, and outreach duties eliminates guesswork. When expectations are explicit, trustees self‑select into a higher level of engagement and hold one another accountable without staff having to police them or trying to push the rope.
If your board members already have a bit of tenure with your organization this can be harder to do, but can be addressed by starting a new specific initiative.
2. Lack of Practice and Training
Great intentions alone don’t decipher a balance sheet, navigate 990 filings, or land Major Gifts. Many board members and other nonprofit leaders are accomplished in their own fields yet feel unprepared the moment donor solicitations surface. This can be tough to address with a one‑time orientation/onboarding for a new board member.
Replace marathon onboarding sessions with continuous learning moments. Structured dashboard walkthroughs during meetings, quick role‑play on thanking or asking donors, or training on specific knowledge or confidence gaps can increase the level of effectiveness of board members individually and as a group. Layer skills in small doses and it helps board members gain reps and competence without feeling like they’re back in school. Skill‑building also boosts confidence so that suddenly board members volunteer to lead a site tour or join a major‑gift call because they know what to say and why it matters. Just always try to put yourself in your board members’ shoes and remember that true confidence only comes from experience.
3. Roles and Lanes That Blur Together
Even the most engaged board members will naturally stall if they don’t know where to steer their energy. Committees drift, staff wonder who approves what, and decisions ping‑pong between agendas. Clear structure and assignments is actually liberating rather than restrictive. When everyone sees the map and the month to month movement, progress naturally accelerates.
Begin by aligning board governance and roles, nonprofits give themselves real authority over their controllable metrics. Within those groups, match people to the work they’ll excel at. Publicize these assignments so volunteers, staff, and fellow trustees know exactly who owns which outcome.
Boards don’t underperform because they lack passion, they underperform because passion is all they have. Sharpen expectations, teach the skills, and draw clear lanes, and you’ll convert polite spectators into strategic thought‑partners guarding mission integrity and fueling the revenue engine that keeps the work alive.
Need help engaging your nonprofit board? You’re not alone! That’s a more common problem with nonprofits than a lot of people realize. Reach out to us if you would benefit from some possible outside help.
