When a new member joins your board, it’s a bit like welcoming a new member to the family — there’s excitement, a bit of nervousness, and the hope that this recent addition will love and support your nonprofit as much as you do.
But before they start talking up your organization in the community or contributing to important decisions, getting them on the same page as everyone else internally in terms of messaging and communications is crucial.
Onboarding new nonprofit board members isn’t just about handing over a stack of documents and saying, “Good luck!” It’s your chance to ensure new board members know how to explain what your nonprofit does, get to know your beneficiaries, donors, and volunteers, and maybe even learn a few insider tips (like where to find the best snacks during meetings).
The goal? To turn your new board members into passionate advocates who can confidently champion your cause.
Here are 8 resources to share with new board members to make sure they are ready to hit the ground running (or at least stroll confidently!).
1. Mission, Vision, and Values
Your mission, vision, and values are your nonprofit’s North Star, guiding every decision, project, and campaign. They’re the reason your organization exists, the dream you’re working toward, and the principles you refuse to compromise on.
Your mission is the “what” — what your organization does every day to make the world a better place. The vision? That’s the “where”—where you hope all that hard work will take you in the future, like a nonprofit utopia where every problem you’re tackling has been solved. And the values are the “how”—how you go about your work, the ethical code you live by, and the thing that makes your organization uniquely yours.
Getting your new nonprofit board members to genuinely feel connected to your mission, vision, and values is crucial. It’s what will inspire them to stick around when the going gets tough and to passionately advocate for your cause at every dinner party, networking event, class reunion, social media platform … you get the idea.
2. Brand Strategy Guide
If you have a brand strategy guide, break it out and go through it with your new nonprofit board members. A brand strategy guide is all about how to make sure your nonprofit looks and sounds fabulous everywhere it shows up.
It includes:
- Your brand core (your mission, vision, and values)
- Your brand position (a breakdown of who you serve and who your “competitors” are)
- Your brand personality (your writing style and your tone of voice, i.e., warm, funny, serious, etc.)
- Your visual identity (your brand colors, typography, and logo)
A brand strategy guide is like the DNA of your organization’s public persona. By familiarizing your new nonprofit board members with this guide, you’re ensuring they know how to keep things consistent, whether they’re crafting a social media post or giving a speech at your next gala.
A brand strategy guide helps your organization stay on brand. When you go to Chick-fil-A, you can be pretty certain the employee you speak to will say “my pleasure” — because that’s part of their brand strategy. Similarly, employees of Dick’s Last Resort purposefully insult customers because it’s part of their brand strategy (weird, but it seems to work).
3. The Elevator Pitch
Ah, the infamous elevator pitch. On paper, it seems like a simple task — craft a description of what your nonprofit does that’s concise enough to deliver between floors, but compelling enough to make the listener skip their floor to learn more. Often, though, it’s harder than it seems!
Everyone in your organization, including new nonprofit board members, should have your elevator pitch ready to go when someone asks, “So, what does your organization do?” It’s like your nonprofit’s catchphrase: short, powerful, and leaving people wanting more.
If you don’t have one, now is the time to create one. And during onboarding, get your new nonprofit board members comfortable with this pitch so they can rattle it off with confidence. After all, you never know when they’ll find themselves in an actual elevator with the perfect potential donor.
4. Who You Help
Your new board members need to know exactly who or what your organization is dedicated to helping. Is it children, veterans, animals, the environment? Whoever — or whatever — it is, this is the heart of your work. And while you’re at it, let’s not just talk about who you’re helping, but why they need help and what kind of impact you’re making.
Give them the scoop on the challenges your people face and how your nonprofit steps in to make life better. The more your board members understand your beneficiaries, the better they’ll be at advocating for them, whether that’s at a community event or during a friendly chat over coffee.
5. Your Services and Footprint
Now that your board members know who you’re helping, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of how you’re helping them. This is where you dive into the services your nonprofit provides and where. Whether it’s education, health care, shelter, advocacy, the arts, or something else, your board members should be well-versed in the specifics. It’s likely they have some understanding of your services already — after all, they were intrigued enough to throw their hat in the ring to join your board!
During this discussion, walk them through how each service works, share some success stories, and don’t be shy about highlighting the impact these services have on your community.
Be sure to map out where all this good stuff is happening, too. Your service area—whether it’s a specific neighborhood, an entire city, or a global reach—is a key piece of the puzzle.
Make sure your board members understand the geographic footprint of your nonprofit, why you focus on this area, and any plans you have for expanding or shifting your reach. The more they know about where you operate, the better they’ll be at tailoring their advocacy efforts to the right people in the right places.
6. Key Messaging
Here’s where we get into the art of talking about your nonprofit in a way that makes people want to listen and take action. Key messaging is all about giving your board members the tools they need to communicate effectively about your organization—whether they’re on social media, at a public event, or just chatting with friends.
Think of key messaging as an expanded version of your elevator pitch. Share the main talking points that reflect your mission and impact. The goal is to ensure that whenever your board members talk about your organization, they’re amplifying the right messages and helping to build your brand’s credibility.
7. Marketing and Fundraising
Marketing and fundraising can sometimes feel less exciting than other aspects of being a board member. That’s why it’s so important to help your board members understand why these things are crucial to your organization’s success (and why they’re a valuable investment).
During onboarding, walk your new board members through your current marketing and fundraising goals and supporting materials, like brochures, signage, donor letters, direct mail pieces, etc. Explain how these efforts fuel your nonprofit’s work and help you reach more people.
By the end of this discussion, your board members should not only see the value in these activities but be excited to support and perhaps even lead some of these efforts. After all, fundraising isn’t just about asking for money. It’s about connecting people with the cause they care about — and who better to do that than someone who’s already passionate about your mission?
8. Advocacy and Outreach
Okay, now that we’ve covered the essentials, let’s talk about what being a board member really means — beyond attending meetings and nodding thoughtfully at presentations. One of the most powerful roles a board member can play is as an advocate and outreach ambassador for your nonprofit.
Encourage your new board members to think of themselves as advocates — using their personal networks, skills, and platforms to spread the word about your mission. Whether it’s inviting a friend to an event, writing a guest blog post, or simply sharing your nonprofit’s content on social media, every little bit helps.
During onboarding, make sure they know what’s expected of them in this role and how they can get involved in a way that’s impactful and feels natural. After all, a well-connected, enthusiastic board member can be one of your nonprofit’s greatest assets. The more they feel equipped and confident in their role, the more they’ll be able to contribute to your nonprofit’s success.
Effective communication is the foundation of a strong and engaged board. By equipping your new nonprofit board members with a deep understanding of your organization’s mission, brand, and key messaging, you’re not just informing them — you’re empowering them to be passionate advocates for your cause.
With the right tools and guidance, they can confidently represent your organization, helping to amplify your impact in the community. Remember, a well-prepared board is not only an asset but a driving force in achieving your nonprofit’s goals!
