Are you ready to unlock your nonprofit’s Full potential?

You’ve done the work. The social media posts. The emails. The perfectly worded text messages. You’ve even wrangled your board to share the link (miracles happen). And then—finally!—your donor clicks that glorious “Donate Now” button.

Now what?

If your donation page is clunky, cluttered, or confusing, here’s what happens: they bounce. They ghost you. They vanish into the internet ether. And just like that, your potential donor becomes a cautionary tale.

Here’s the truth: the hardest part is getting folks to your donation page. Once they’re there, it should feel like a red carpet moment. Easy. Inviting. Painless. Even joyful.

But not all donation pages are created equal. Some look like a Mad Libs form from 2003. Others? They sing. They inspire. They convert.

If you’re ready to spruce things up this spring (because yes, spring cleaning applies to fundraising, too), I’ve got six simple but powerful fundraising strategies for seasoned and new nonprofits to help you turn your donation page into a fundraising powerhouse.

1. Add Suggested Giving Amounts (Because Most People Are Just Guessing)

Let’s be honest: most donors have no clue what amount will make a meaningful impact. That’s where you come in.

Suggested giving levels act like a friendly nudge: “Hey, this is what other awesome humans like you are giving!”

Pro tip: Use your average donation size as a guide. Then offer three options: a starting point, your average gift, and a stretch amount. Make it concrete. “$50 = one week of groceries for a family of four” is much more compelling than “$50.”

Help your donor see the impact. And don’t be afraid to dream bigger—sometimes just listing $100 inspires someone to say, “Sure, I can do that.”

2. Cut the Clutter (Seriously, Marie Kondo That Thing)

You don’t need sparkles. Or pop-ups. Or a photo gallery of last year’s pancake breakfast.

Your donation page has one job: to make giving easy.

Strip it down. Clean it up. Focus the eye on the action:

• One inspiring photo, tops.
• No pop-ups.
• Minimal form fields. (Yes, we love to know how people heard about us, but it’s not more important than closing the gift.)

Think clean, mobile-friendly, and clearly branded. A donation page should feel like the rest of your site—not a detour to the DMV.

3. Accept More Than Just Cash (Yes, Really)

We’ve been living in a Venmo world, and your donation page needs to catch up.

The average cash gift on a form is $128. Not bad. But a stock donation? Around $8,000. A DAF gift? $12,000.

Here’s what this means: If your page only takes credit cards, you’re leaving serious money on the table.

Invest in tools that allow donors to give stock, crypto, or recommend DAF grants. These high-capacity donors want to give big—and they love the tax perks. Make it seamless and they’ll make it generous.

4. Make Recurring Giving a No-Brainer

You want to build stability. Predictability. A revenue stream you can count on even when your gala gets rained out or your appeal email lands in spam. (Hey, it happens.)

Recurring giving is your BFF.

Here’s how to make it irresistible:

• Let donors check a box to “make this monthly.” Easy peasy.
• Show side-by-side comparisons: $25 one-time vs. $10/month recurring.
• After a one-time donation, ask: “Want to make this monthly?” It’s like asking, “Would you like fries with that?”—but for impact.

Bonus points if donors can easily manage their recurring gift on their own with emailing you and waiting a week.

5. Promote Matching Gifts (Because Two is Better Than One)‍

If I told you a donor could double their impact with zero extra effort, would you shout it from the rooftops? You should.

Corporate matching gifts are free money—but only if your donors know they exist.

Add a searchable matching gift database right on your donation page. Let folks look up their employer and see if their donation qualifies. Remind them during the gift, after the gift, and even in your thank-you email.

One in three donors say they’ll give more if a match is available. Let’s give them a reason to say yes.

6. Make It Mobile Friendly (Because That's Where Donors Are)

More than half of all nonprofit website traffic is coming from mobile devices. If your donation page isn’t mobile-optimized, you’re basically hanging a “Closed” sign on your virtual front door.

Fix it. Yesterday.

That means:

• Big, tappable buttons
• Limited scrolling
• Drop-downs and multiple choice options instead of free-form fields
• Fast load times (because no one waits anymore)

Also consider adding a QR code to your direct mail or event signage that takes people right to your donation form. Instant access = instant action.

7. Say Thank You—Like You Really Mean It

I know what you’re thinking: This isn’t about the donation page itself!

Ah, but it is.

Because the donor journey doesn’t end when someone clicks “Submit.” That confirmation screen? That email receipt? Those are golden opportunities to cement a relationship—and tee up the next gift.

Here’s how to make your gratitude count:

• Customize your confirmation page. Include a short thank-you video from your ED, a powerful image, or a quick impact stat that makes them feel like a hero.
• Ditch the robotic receipt. Use warm, authentic language in your confirmation email—something that sounds like it was written by a human who actually cares. Because, well, it was, right?
• Add next steps. Invite them to follow you on social media, sign up for your newsletter, or share their gift with friends (hello, peer-to-peer opportunity!).
• Personalize when you can. A first-time $10 donor deserves the same love and appreciation as your major donor—just in a way that fits. Gratitude is scalable, folks.

A thank-you that feels sincere is more than just manners. It’s strategy.

Because donors who feel seen? They come back.

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The Bottom Line

Your donation page is not just a form. It’s a welcome mat. A trust-builder. A closer.

So go ahead. Trim the fluff. Boost the features. Make it easy, warm, and reflective of the amazing work you do.

Because when your donation page works harder, you can focus on what really matters: changing the world.

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For more fundraising strategies for new nonprofits, check out our resources!

Creating content and posting on social media for your nonprofit can feel like taming a wild beast, especially for organizations with limited resources. But fear not—you're in control, and with the right strategies, you can master this ever-evolving digital landscape.

The average social media user juggles seven platforms, from Facebook to TikTok, each demanding its own approach. As daunting as that may seem, this blog post breaks down practical tips to help you reach and retain your audience without getting lost in the minutiae. Whether your organization is tip-toeing into social media or needs a total makeover, it’s a manageable task when you lean into a handful of effective strategies.

Let’s dive in:

Who Are “Your People”?

The foundation of a successful social media strategy lies in understanding who your audience is. Knowing your audience and what they want to see is key to creating content that they will like, comment on, and share.It’s also critical for planning how to turn followers into supporters and donors.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to take a look at your existing supporters, donors, and social audience. If you aren’t sure, consider doing quick, informal surveys at events or via email. While it won’t give you hard data, it can still provide valuable insights into what your audience enjoys and how they engage online.

You can also use social media analytics tools to gain insights into your current followers and identify potential supporters.

For more information on Instagram analytics, click HERE.  

For more information on Facebook analytics, click HERE.  

For more information on TikTok analytics, click HERE.

“Nope” Is Okay

You can’t be everything to everyone. If a particular platform is not a fit for your audience and your nonprofit brand,you don’t need to frantically launch a presence there. Running too many social media channels will lead to overwhelm and fatigue and result in neglect. It is better to well-rounded content on fewer social media platforms than it is to have multiple social media platforms that look like they are abandoned.

Voice Lessons

Social media provides a platform to share a personalized and unique perspective of your organization. Be sure to spend time on your profile because it is what people initially respond to. You want clear and concise information on your profile that makes it easy to say yes to following your account.

A well-crafted profile can set the tone for potential followers, providing them with a snapshot of your mission, values, and the impact of your work. Include a compelling bio, high-quality profile and cover images, and relevant links to your website or other important resources.Utilize keywords that resonate with your audience and succinctly convey what your organization stands for. Highlight your achievements and make your mission statement prominent to inspire confidence and interest. By investing time in creating an engaging and informative profile, you can attract and retain a loyal and supportive online community.

Look Around

You might be surprised at what’s of interest to others. Nonprofits have many interesting content opportunities on social media. Here are some types of posts you can share to engage your audience and advance your mission:

1. Success Stories and Testimonials

• Impact Stories: Share stories of individuals or communities who have benefited from your nonprofit’s good work.
• Donor Spotlights: Highlight the contributions of key donors and how their support has made a difference.

2. Educational Content

• Infographics and Fact Sheets: Provide easy-to-digest information related to your cause. (Use Canva to easily create this content.)
• How-To Guides: Create and offer step-by-step guides or tips on issues relevant to your mission.
• Research and Reports: Share findings from studies or reports that support your cause. You can set Google Alerts for your issues relevant to your mission. For instructions on how to set up Google Alerts, click HERE.

3. Behind-the-Scenes

• Daily Operations: Show day-to-day activities within your organization.
• Event Preparations: Offer a glimpse into the preparations for upcoming events or initiatives.
• Staff and Volunteer Highlights: Introduce your team members and volunteers, sharing their stories and roles.

4. Calls to Action

• Fundraising Appeals:  Encourage donations with compelling reasons why support is needed for your     nonprofit.
• Volunteer Opportunities: Inform your audience about ways they can get involved.
• Petitions and Advocacy:  Mobilize your followers to support legislative changes or community actions.

5. Events and Announcements

• Event Invitations: Promote upcoming events and fundraisers.
• Live Updates: Post real-time updates during events to engage those who can’t attend in person. Make these updates lively and fun, so they won’t want to miss out on your next event!
• Milestones and Achievements: Celebrate significant milestones for your nonprofit and share progress updates.

6. User-Generated Content

• Reposts from Followers: Share content created by your supporters, such as photos or stories. Make sure you are asking volunteers and other supporters to tag you when they  share content on social media.
• Contests and Challenges: Host social media challenges or contests to encourage engagement and participation.

7. Inspirational Quotes and Messages

• Quotes from Leaders:  Share inspiring quotes from leaders related to your cause.
• Motivational Messages: Post messages that motivate and inspire your followers to support your mission.

8. Interactive Content

• Polls and Surveys: Engage your audience with questions and polls to gather their opinions and insights.
• Q&A Sessions: Host live Q&A sessions with staff members or experts in your field.

9. Partnerships and Collaborations

• Collaborative Projects: Highlight partnerships with other organizations and the outcomes of these collaborations.
• Guest Posts: Feature content from guest bloggers or influencers who support your cause.

10. Seasonal and Timely Content

• Holiday Greetings: Post messages related to holidays and how your organization celebrates or works during these times.
• Awareness Days: Participate in relevant awareness days and campaigns to highlight important issues.

11. Visual and Multimedia Content

• Photos and Videos: Use compelling visuals to tell your story, showcase events, and highlight your work.
• Live Streams: Go live to share events, updates, or interviews in real-time. Don’t worry about being perfect! Just go for it. You can do it.

By mixing these types of content, you will keep your social media channels vibrant, informative, and engaging, ultimately building a stronger connection with your audience which will bring you more supporters and donors.

Social Media Is An Organic, “Living” Thing

Never be afraid to change.

When it comes to your profile, swap out your cover or profile photo frequently. It needn’t always be your logo. It can be a photo of a recent event…a photographic collage of clients, staff or Board members, or even a meaningful, metaphorical banner that aligns with your mission.

Never miss the chance to create a Facebook Event for anything your organization has organized or is staging. Invite the maximum permitted daily. This is free to do, and it can be very impactful. For instructions on how to create a Facebook Event, click HERE.

Batch and Schedule Your Posts

Planning social media content helps thwart hurried,last-minute posts. Create a simple calendar of what needs to happen and when. Always aim for quality over quantity and take time to perfect your content with collaboration from your Board and staff.

We have a FREE social media content calendar for you to make things easier. Click HERE or on the image below to get it now. 

Housekeeping

You should engage in regular "housekeeping" efforts to maintain a strong and effective social media presence for your nonprofit. Here are some key activities:

1. Profile Maintenance

• Update Information Regularly: Ensure that your contact information, bio, mission statement, and links are current and accurate.
• Refresh Visuals: As stated above, be sure to update profile pictures, cover images, and any other visual elements to keep them in line with your branding and recent events.

2. Content Audit

• Review Past Posts:  Regularly review older posts to ensure they are still relevant and reflect your current messaging.
• Re-purpose Content:  Identify high-performing content that can be updated or re-shared to maximize its reach.

3. Engagement Management

• Respond to Comments  and Messages: Regularly check for and respond to comments and direct messages to maintain engagement and show that you value your  followers' input.
• Monitor Mentions:  Keep an eye on mentions of your organization and engage where appropriate to build relationships and manage your reputation.

4. Analytics Review

• Track Performance  Metrics: Regularly review analytics to understand which types of content are performing well and which aren’t.
• Adjust Strategy:  Use insights from your analytics to refine your content strategy, posting schedule, and engagement tactics.

5. Security Checks

• Update Passwords:  Regularly change passwords and ensure they are strong to protect your accounts from unauthorized access.
• Review Account  Permissions: Check who has access to your social media accounts and adjust permissions as needed to maintain security.

6. Platform Updates

• Stay Informed:  Keep up with changes and updates to social media platforms to take advantage of new features and avoid any pitfalls. Check our blog frequently for social media updates to makes this easier for you. We know     you are busy, and we are here to help you!
• Adapt Strategies: Adjust your social media strategies to align with new platform features or algorithm changes.

7. Content Planning

• Maintain a Content  Calendar: Keep a content calendar updated with upcoming posts, events, and campaigns. (Remember, we shared where you can get our FREE social media content calendar for nonprofits ABOVE.)
• Plan Ahead: Schedule posts in advance to ensure consistent activity, especially during busy periods or holidays.

8. Hashtag and Keyword Optimization

• Update Hashtags: Regularly review and update the hashtags you use to ensure they are still relevant and effective.
• Optimize Keywords: Use keywords that resonate with your audience and align with current trends in your nonprofit field.

9. Collaboration and Training

• Team Coordination: Ensure your team is aligned and aware of your social media strategy and any upcoming campaigns.
• Provide Training: Offer training for team members on best practices, new tools, and platform updates to keep your social media efforts effective.

Regularly engaging in these housekeeping activities can help nonprofit you maintain a polished, effective, and secure social media presence, ultimately enhancing your ability to connect with and inspire your audience!

Spoiler Alert: Some Folks Just Aren’t Nice

Sometimes you will encounter tricky situations and they might become public, or you might just run across a troll who likes to post mean things. When this happens, don’t quarrel, dispute, disparage or otherwise engage with criticism. Instead, invite the individual to Direct or Private Message their concerns to you so you can address them. Professionally managing unpleasant feedback is essential. Being proactive will ward off further negative reactions. Consistency and timeliness is important, so always respond to comments (good or bad) as soon as possible.

If things get really ugly, feel free to report the troll to the social media channel they are trolling you on. You can also block them.

 The Bottom Line Is…

Relax. Social media isn’t about mastering every algorithm; it’s about mastering your rhythm. Think of it as having a conversation with your community—be genuine, be passionate, and let your mission shine. You don’t need to be a tech wizard; you just need to be yourself. Connect with the people in your city, state, or county by sharing your unique story and inviting them to be a part of it. Remember, you’re not just building followers; you’re building a community of supporters who believe in your cause. So, take a deep breath, have fun with it, and watch your nonprofit’s impact grow, one post at a time.

When we said handful, that’s what we meant.

There’s plenty more information on this topic and so much more at our Etsy shop with our top selling item, 335 Nonprofit Social Media Templates: https://successfornonprofits.etsy.com/listing/1545647923/nonprofit-social-media-templates-non 

Feeling like your nonprofit's good work is getting lost in the noise? Yeah, we've all been there.

If you're here, you're probably ready to shake things up and get your nonprofit the spotlight it deserves. And guess what? It's about time! Generating publicity in today's digital age is an art, a science, and a bit of a circus act. Buckle up, because we're diving into the new reality of making your nonprofit the talk of the town.

There can be no doubt that journalism has changed a lot over the past few years. In fact, 2,627 weekly publications closed or merged with other papers between 2004 and 2023 and daily publications also saw a decline, with just over 1,200 in publication in 2023.

But there’s a positive takeaway. Those closures mergers, and acquisitions of news gathering organizations can mean your press releases have and will probably become more sought and worthwhile.

The shortage of newsroom journalists and employees for reportage and fact-checking means topical PR with a news angle has become more attractive to editors.

You probably don’t have the funding to justify a communications director.

Close to 70% of nonprofits say budget limitations is their number one PR challenge.

Yet press coverage is a must.

Rely on these five tips as you sit down at the keyboard.

Do your homework.

Sending your press release is not going to magically result in front page coverage or a feature story.

This means studying the publication(s) to whom you typically dispatch your PR. “A beat” is a reporter’s specific focus on a particular issue, sector, organization, or institution, such as politics, business, or the arts. It’s what they specialize in and what they trained for, so their eye may be more discerning.

If your news outlets don’t have clearly delineated “beats,” at least look for common ground – articles by a particular reporter that align with your organizations mission.

Making yourself available as the expert in the field and as a reliable source of information will go a long way to getting your nonprofit featured. Savvy reporters tend to call who they know for “the scoop.”

Make sure you’re one of those people.

But first, you have to get their attention.

Let’s get real—your nonprofit is doing amazing work. But amazing work doesn't always get the attention it should. You need to be the headline, not the afterthought. Craft compelling stories that tug at heartstrings and inspire action. Think of yourself as a storyteller. Share real-life impacts, transformational journeys, and the faces behind your cause. Journalists and bloggers love human interest stories, so give them something to swoon over.

Making that first toss.

“Pitching” a news or feature article idea via e-mail is not dissimilar to playing on the ball field.

What’s thrown may or may not be caught.

About 30% of organizations report that a journalist has contacted them about a release they’d sent.

More than 1 in 4 journalists (28%) receive over one hundred pitches per week. They respond to about 3% of those.

Reaching out personally is the fastest way to gain traction, but cultivating positive relationships with reporters, features. editorialists and columnists takes as much time, conversely, as it takes them to develop reliable (sometimes confidential) sources. Position yourself as an expert in the field, or someone who has unique access to that expertise.

The introductory pitch should be short and timely. Consider your words carefully. Avoid “clickbait” and sensationalized headlines. Reporters recognize hype.‍

Connect the dots.‍

Once you've set the scene, it's time to bring your details to vivid life. It's all about the who, what, when, where, why and how.

Don’t “round up” data or approximate something that a fact-checker can disprove. Your credibility will be in tatters if you misrepresent.

Include direct quotes from the interviewees involved, with their titles cited. This is attribution and refers to the source of something placed between quotation marks, as though it is dialogue. Pick one or two articulate spokespeople who would also be willing to answer follow-up questions.

Stories are sometimes edited to fit available space (from the bottom-up, which means EVERY important detail should be within the first one hundred words).

An effective way to ensure this is by using the reverse pyramid formula when writing your press release: going from the most vital information to the least important.

Lead with the essentials. Leave the least key details to the last.

Proofread! Proofread again! Slapdash releases with aimless paragraphs will inevitably be discarded. Hand it off to a colleague for a fresh set of eyes.‍

A picture’s worth...well, you know where we’re going with this.‍

This means furnishing photographs/illustrations/graphics that are of acceptable resolution, with proper captions and identifiers (and it’s always to have the written permission of anyone within the photograph, because their presence is an implied endorsement).

One additional option: if they are polished, short videos produced by your organization should be furnished. Small files can be attached to the e-mail; you can also provide easy access by directing them to a download service like DropBox or We Transfer. The news outlet might upload these to their website counterpart. ‍

The shelf life of a press release.‍

Something time-sensitive needs to respect the outlet’s “lead time” (the duration between acceptance and publication). Be respectful of deadlines, too. Ignore the fine print beginning with ‘Must submit by…’ at your own peril. The best-crafted release, if it arrives too late in an editor’s in-box, will be relegated to the e-mail trashcan. A failure to furnish information in an expedient manner will potentially burn a bridge before you ever cross it.‍

The enormity of today’s media brings with it a ravenous appetite. You can feed the beast and make it work for you. By generating PR that reads like a news story, you become a content provider. To establish your credibility and reinforce your value to your local print media, download “Me? A Reporter?!” for even more “tricks of the trade.”

The enormity of today’s media brings with it a ravenous appetite. You can feed the beast and make it work for you. By generating PR that reads like a news story, you become a content provider. To establish your credibility and reinforce your value to your local print media, take a look at some of our trainings and resources in our Etsy shop. Click here to check it out: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SuccessForNonprofits

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Do you ever feel like there's just not enough time in the day to get everything done as a nonprofit professional? You're not alone! But don't worry, I've gathered a collection of helpful tools to lend you a hand. Whether you are wrestling with project management, donor relations, or online visibility, these tools are here to make your life a little easier. Best of all, these tools are FREE!

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• Manage Projects: Feeling overwhelmed by scattered tasks and unclear deadlines? Asana's free version keeps your team organized and on the same page. Asana offers a 50% discount for nonprofits if you want to use all of its amazing features Click HERE to learn more.

• Craft Newsletters: Ditch the personal email account! Mailchimp offers a free tier to design professional and engaging email newsletters for your subscribers. You can also get a 15% discount as a nonprofit if you want to upgrade to a higher tier. Learn more by clicking HERE.

• Boost Online Visibility: Want to reach more people but can't afford ads? Google Ad Grants provides nonprofits with a free $10,000 monthly budget for text-based search ads.

• Stay Connected with Donors: Zeffy's free plan helps smaller nonprofits manage donor information and streamline fundraising processes.

• Facilitate Teamwork: Google Workspace for Nonprofits offers a suite of free tools including Gmail, Docs, Calendar, and Drive for seamless collaboration within your team.

• Proofread Your Work: Grammarly's free plan catches typos and grammatical errors before you hit publish. Polish your writing further with the free Hemingway App to improve readability.

• Present Data with Flair: Can't afford fancy data visualization tools? Tableau Public lets you create interactive charts, graphs, and dashboards to showcase your data in a compelling way.

• Empower Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Give Lively's free platform empowers your supporters to create and run their own fundraising campaigns, expanding your donor network. Zeffy also offers this service for FREE!

• Schedule Social Media Posts: Short on time to manage social media? Buffer allows you to schedule posts in advance for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram (with a limited number of free accounts).

• Track Link Performance: Wondering if people are clicking your links? Bitly's free plan shortens links and provides basic tracking analytics. They recently acquired QR Code Generator, another free tool to connect your audience to campaigns and events.

• Analyze Website Traffic: Google Analytics offers free insights into who visits your website, how they find you, and what they do once they arrive.

• Test Website Usability: See how visitors navigate your website with Microsoft Clarity's free heatmaps and recordings. This helps you identify areas for improvement.

• Find Free Images: No budget for stock photos?  Pexels and Unsplash offer high-quality images you can download for free. (But, I recommend taking your own pictures whenever possible!)

• Design Engaging Visuals: Canva is a free and user-friendly tool to create stunning graphics and edit photos for your website and social media. Nonprofits can get the professional version of Canva FREE! Click HERE to learn more and sign up now!

• Build Online Communities: Facebook Groups provide a free platform for fostering discussion and connection among your supporters within a familiar platform.

• Manage Volunteers: Simplify volunteer recruitment and communication with a free Volunteer Management tool by SignUp.

• Securely Store Passwords: LastPass helps you manage all your passwords securely with a single master password. The free plan offers basic features for password storage and generation.

Did I miss any hidden gems on this list? Feel free to email me at Steph@SuccessForNonprofits, and I will add them.

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You know that moment when you’re presenting at a board meeting and you look around the room (or the Zoom)? One board member’s answering emails, another looks genuinely surprised to learn your nonprofit runs on donations, and someone just asked if the gala theme could be “Casino Royale” again.

Yup. You’ve got board problems.

Let’s say it together: It’s not just you. Almost every nonprofit leader I know has had at least one sleepless night wondering if their board was more harm than help.

So let’s break down some of the most common nonprofit board struggles—so you can name them, claim them, and start doing something about them.

1. “We Didn’t Know We Were Supposed to Fundraise”

This one’s a doozy. You think it's clear. They think it's optional. Cue: confusion, resentment, and that one board member who swears their “network” is donation enough.

Why it happens: Board recruitment is often rushed or reactive. Expectations aren’t clearly laid out. The word “fundraising” makes people break out in hives.

What to do: Fix your onboarding. Spell out expectations—especially around fundraising—in writing. Give them the tools (and confidence) to do it well. Don’t assume they know how to ask for money. Teach them.

2. The Disappearing Board Member Act

They're full of enthusiasm at their first meeting—and then vanish into the nonprofit void. Emails go unanswered. Committee work? Forget it.

Why it happens: Life gets busy, yes. But more often? Lack of engagement. They don’t see how their presence actually matters.

What to do: Reignite the spark. Remind them why your mission matters. Ask for specific, time-limited help. Make board service feel less like a monthly obligation and more like a front-row seat to changing the world.

3. Too Much In the Weeds, Not Enough in the Strategy

You present a new program idea, and suddenly half the board is editing your budget line by line. Or debating the font on the brochure. Meanwhile, big-picture decisions sit untouched.

Why it happens: Many board members come from business or operations backgrounds and feel most comfortable in the details.

What to do: Set clear roles. Staff manages the day-to-day. The board looks at the horizon. Reinforce this gently—and often. Use dashboards and summaries to steer them toward strategic thinking.

4. The Boardroom Power Struggle

Ah yes—the board chair who thinks they’re the ED. Or the board member with big ideas and zero filter. Meetings feel like political warfare. You leave exhausted.

Why it happens: Power imbalances, unclear roles, and sometimes... just plain ego.

What to do: Go back to your bylaws. Clarify roles in your board manual. Build a strong relationship with your board chair—they should be your thought partner, not your micromanager.

5. Lack of Diversity—and We’re Not Just Talking About Race

Many boards are made up of the “usual suspects.” You know who I mean—same professions, same zip codes, same age range.

Why it happens: Board recruitment often happens through personal networks, and let’s be honest—people tend to recruit folks who look and think like them.

What to do: Get strategic about recruitment. Think about who you need to reflect your community and why their voices matter. Create a matrix. Fill in the gaps. And don’t just invite them to the table—make sure they feel heard once they’re there.

Final Thought: Progress, Not Perfection

Here’s the truth: No board is perfect. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress.

Start where you are. Name the problem out loud. And take one step at a time to make your board stronger, more engaged, and more aligned with your mission.

Your board isn’t just another task on your to-do list. With the right guidance and a clear path forward, they can become one of your greatest assets—energized, aligned, and ready to lead alongside you.

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Need more help turning your board from meh to mighty? Check out our toolkit of resources in our Etsy Shop. EBecause when your board works, your whole mission gets stronger.

Visit our shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SuccessForNonprofits

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