Online Board Meetings Benefits

As a non-profit organization you’re likely to have a few board member slots. Many of these slots are difficult to fill due to the time commitment required to travel and attend meetings in person. Virtual board meetings remove the need for travel and calendar sync which makes them more accessible to busy board members.

It’s also simpler to schedule and participate in virtual meetings, which can decrease the amount of preparation needed prior to each meeting, and the necessity of coordinating meeting spaces. This will reduce your board’s overall workload which can be beneficial to your organization and its bottom line.

Another benefit of online board meetings is that they can help connect and get board members involved. The right technology platform can facilitate this by offering tools for communication via video conference, presentation and discussion through chats and whiteboard collaboration. These tools can be used to provide the same kind of experience as an in-person meeting while following the rules of participation and meeting etiquette.

To keep engagement high, it’s best to limit the duration of meetings, and to take breaks when needed. It’s also helpful to provide training to board members who are not tech-savvy and to encourage the use of a variety of meeting tools. This Board Report includes polling questions, muting, using the virtual “raise hand” option and allowing members to submit questions via the chat box.