Online Board Meetings Benefits for Nonprofits
Online Board Meetings Benefits
As a non-profit, you’re likely to have a restricted amount of board members. Many of those slots are difficult to fill due to the time commitment that comes with traveling and attending in-person meetings. Virtual board meetings eliminate the need for travel and calendar synchronization, making them more accessible to busy board members.
It’s also much easier to plan and attend virtual meetings, which can decrease the amount of preparation needed prior to each meeting and the necessity to coordinate meeting space. This can reduce the workload of your board and is beneficial to your organization’s bottom line.
Another important benefit of board meetings that are online is that they help to connect and engage board members. A good technology platform can enable this engagement by providing tools for communication via video conference, presentation and discussion via chats, and whiteboard collaboration. These tools can be used to provide the same type of experience as an in-person meeting, while respecting the rules of participation and meeting etiquette.
To keep the engagement high, it’s recommended to reduce the length of meetings and take breaks when necessary. It’s also beneficial to provide training for members who aren’t tech-savvy and encourage them to use different meeting tools. This includes muting or polling questions and using the virtual “raise your hand” option. Members can also submit questions in the chatbox.
