By Adam Wire, Content Marketing Manager at Onboard – a Board Intelligence Platform built to empower nonprofit boards with simple, secure, and effective governance solutions.
Behind every successful nonprofit organization is a great board of directors. With an effective board in place, a nonprofit is better positioned to deliver on its mission, steward donor trust, and ensure long-term stability. But just how effective are today’s nonprofit boards?
OnBoard’s recently released 2025 Board Effectiveness Survey found encouraging progress. A majority of respondents say their boards are more effective today than they were a year ago. Yet, significant gaps remain, particularly around member engagement, board meeting technology, and director preparedness. These findings shed light on where nonprofit boards should focus their efforts to maximize performance and impact.
Read on to explore key findings from the survey, analyzed specifically for nonprofit organizations, and learn five practical steps nonprofit boards can take right away to go from good to great.
Progress and the Persistent Gaps Holding Boards Back
While nonprofits have faced no shortage of challenges in the past year, there’s reason to feel optimistic: 71% of respondents say their boards are more effective today than they were 12 months ago.
This is encouraging progress, but it doesn’t mean board directors can rest on their laurels. The data shows steady performance in the board’s core responsibilities, including financial oversight, strategic focus, and governance and continuity. But it also highlights gaps that hold boards back, including challenges with:
- Member engagement
- Meeting preparation
- The use of technology during and between meetings
These challenges can undermine the effectiveness of any board. However, they’re arguably more pronounced in the nonprofit world, where resource constraints and volunteer dynamics make it harder to sustain consistent performance and engagement.
Engagement Starts with People
In an ideal world, every person serving on a nonprofit board is committed to the organization’s mission and ready to bring their best to their role. But the data paints a different story.
Today, 87% of respondents believe at least 10% of their board members are ineffective, up from 72% the prior year. On average, boards in 2025 view about 36% of their members as ineffective.
A board is only as strong as the people in the room. So, it’s not surprising that many of the top factors that drag down board performance are people-related, including:
- Under-performing members
- Low engagement
- Limited communication between board meetings
- Inconsistent board member preparedness
For nonprofits, these human challenges can be especially difficult to overcome. Nonprofit board members typically volunteer their time while balancing careers and other commitments, which can lead to the issues cited above. But low engagement can be overcome.
Effective onboarding, clear expectations, and regular touchpoints are foundational to boosting participation. By establishing role clarity, fostering peer accountability, and maintaining open dialogue between meetings, nonprofits can build stronger, more engaged boards.
Boards advance with AI, yet PDFs still slow decisions. Download the 2025 Board Effectiveness Survey and learn from 549 board voices who shared their concerns and aspirations.
Bridging the Technology Gap in the Boardroom
Technology is evolving at breakneck speed, and even the most tech-savvy board members can struggle to keep up. While boards report strong effectiveness overall, technology is a notable gap.
Only two-thirds of respondents rate their boards as effective at using technology, and just 69% feel confident in the cybersecurity of their board information.
Some additional data points reinforce why technology is such a challenge. More than half (57%) of boards continue to use PDFs and email attachments as their primary method of preparing and distributing board materials. Thirty-one percent report using digital tools, but the majority of those rely on generic office platforms rather than purpose-built governance technology.
For nonprofits, technology challenges can be even more pronounced. With tighter budgets and leaner teams, many nonprofit boards lag behind their corporate counterparts in adopting technology specifically designed for governance. However, these organizations also have an opportunity to leapfrog forward by embracing affordable, secure board portals that streamline collaboration, simplify pre-reads, and protect sensitive information.
With the rise of remote and hybrid board meetings, digital tools are no longer optional. When used effectively, modern governance tools help boards streamline meeting preparation, strengthen engagement, and stay focused on what matters most: the organization’s mission.
AI in the Boardroom and What Nonprofits Need to Know
While still in its infancy, AI is already transforming how many organizations operate. Boards that embrace AI are seeing measurable gains. According to survey results, directors who use artificial intelligence report higher levels of effectiveness and collaboration. However, respondents in the education and nonprofit sectors are less likely to use AI tools.
Experimenting with AI can feel intimidating for anyone, but especially for nonprofits with limited budget and fewer technology resources. The good news is that AI adoption doesn’t require big budgets or deep technical expertise. Nonprofits can start small, using AI for practical, high-impact use cases like:
- Summarizing lengthy board books
- Extracting action items from meeting notes
- Compiling a first draft of meeting minutes
As with any technology, thoughtful adoption is imperative. Nonprofits must approach AI with careful attention to security, data governance, and human oversight. Furthermore, AI must be viewed as a complement to board members’ fiduciary oversight and human judgment, not a replacement. When used responsibly, AI can help boards operate more efficiently so they can spend less time on time-consuming, tedious work and more time advancing the organization’s mission.
5 Practical Ways to Build a More Effective Nonprofit Board
While boards are becoming more effective, there are plenty of challenges and opportunities ahead. Based on the survey’s findings, here are 5 practical, impactful steps nonprofit boards can take now to go from good to great.
1) Clarify Board Member Roles and Expectations
Revisit board director job descriptions to ensure they accurately convey responsibilities and time commitments. This helps directors know what to expect right from the start. Consistent onboarding processes and ongoing training also help members stay engaged and confident in their roles.
2) Improve Meeting Preparation and Communication
Empower board members to show up to meetings prepared and ready to engage in productive discussions. Share agendas and board packets early and encourage members to review materials in advance. Use a shared dashboard or secure workspace to centralize information and encourage members to communicate consistently between meetings.
3) Leverage Affordable Governance Technology
Explore tools designed specifically for governance, such as board portals or secure shared workspaces. These tools accelerate meeting preparation, manage version control, and ensure everyone has secure access to the right information.
4) Explore Fit-For-Purpose AI Tools
AI can be impactful, and bringing it into an organization doesn’t have to be intimidating. Start small with simple use cases like summarizing meeting notes or identifying action items. Provide training to board members as well as clear guidelines for responsible use.
5) Refresh Board Composition and Succession Planning
Ensure the right people are sitting around the boardroom table. Regularly assess board composition to maintain a mix of skills, backgrounds, and digital literacy. Rotate terms and invite new members who can strengthen governance and bring fresh perspectives and energy to the organization.
None of these steps are big-budget initiatives. Most are process improvements that can have a lasting impact on how effectively nonprofit boards lead and how well they deliver on their mission.
It’s Time to Turn Insights into Action
An effective board of directors is key to accelerating a nonprofit organization’s mission. The 2025 Board Effectiveness Survey shows real momentum, with many boards feeling more effective this year than last. However, it also highlights clear opportunities for improvement, especially in the areas of people, technology, and engagement.
Boosting board effectiveness doesn’t have to be overwhelming for nonprofits. Start small by choosing one or two of the action items outlined above, then build from there. With each improvement, the board will be better positioned to drive a meaningful, lasting impact on the organization and those it serves.
