When you think about a Board meeting, what comes to mind? Probably words like financials, policies and procedures, new business, etc. ... but is mission one of them?

It seems so obvious, yet often gets overlooked because it is easy to get lost in the weeds of things like budget approvals and by-law changes.

But what is the real reason that Board members are there? It is because they care deeply about the organization’s mission. Help them connect on a deeper level by sharing something about the mission at the beginning of every meeting.

Here are some ideas for how to get started:

Share a client story.

This is by far the number one way to share impact. You could read a client story or testimonial. Even better, maybe you have a client who would be willing to come and talk to the Board in person. Have them share how the services they received helped impact their life. Hearing words straight from the client is bound to have an emotional and memorable impact.

Have a staff member present.

Let’s be honest: no one knows your mission better than the people who work in the trenches every single day. Consider having a staff member come to share what ‘a day in the life’ might look like. Or maybe they could talk about the program they oversee. Having a new voice present often sparks great questions and conversation among all.

Show a short video.

Sharing a ‘mission moment’ at each Board meeting doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task or project. Showing a video might be a quick solution for a month when you are short on ideas. It could be something you already have on hand or something that has been created to be used for something else – like a social media post or your annual report. And maybe Board members would be interested in having a copy for themselves afterward in case they want to use it as a tool to help share your story with their own networks.

Ask the Audience.

Consider flipping the script and asking each board member why it is they care, why they wanted to join the board, and why the mission is important to them. You might be shocked by some of their responses, and it helps build team comradery, too.

Have a well-known community leader and supporter present.

Sometimes, hearing from our peers or someone we look up to and trust is a sure way to spark inspiration.

Can you think of one of your proudest, long-standing supporters? Perhaps they are well-known in the community. Would they be willing to come talk to your Board and share why they have continued to support your mission for so long? Sometimes, hearing from our peers or someone we look up to and trust is a sure way to spark inspiration. Plus, if they have been supporting the organization for a long time, they likely have wonderful insight into its history and growth.

Present the Board with a scenario and ask them to navigate the same complex systems and challenges your clients face.

Looking for something more interactive? What if you put together a typical scenario that a ‘client’ might face and then ask the Board what steps they would take if they were in their shoes. Along the way, you can help explain why some of their responses would not be feasible. This is not meant to make Board members feel inadequate but simply to show them the difficult reality that many of your clients encounter.

Did a Board member recently participate in a mission-activity? Ask them to share their experience.

Maybe a Board member came to your volunteer day or joined in on one of your community programs. Ask them to share their experience with the Board. Hearing stories is impactful, but getting to do hands on work helps connect us in a much deeper way. Maybe this will inspire other Board members to participate next time, too!

The benefits of doing this at every meeting are countless.

Board members are our number one supporters, ambassadors, and champions. They will leave each meeting feeling more committed, inspired, and with tools for how to speak about the organization more comfortably and confidently. Having real-life stories about the work makes it much easier to remember and share than stats, reports, and dashboards.

Starting with a ‘mission moment’ also helps ensure that the remainder of the meeting runs well. Everyone has been reminded that they are all there for the same reason – to help the people the organization serves.

A few things to keep in mind:

It is important to keep your ‘mission moment’ concise and inspiring. You want to provide content that Board members can remember and repeat.
Don’t worry if the story you are sharing isn’t always a ‘happy’ one. Non-profit work can be difficult, messy, and even heart-wrenching. It is important for the Board to understand all aspects of the organization, even the hard ones.
Consider repurposing your mission moments for other marketing initiatives. It is no secret that non-profit leaders are BUSY and often wear many hats. Storytelling is arguably your most powerful tool. Why not use this content to serve multiple needs!

Consider trying this at your board meetings during 2024, and let me know how it works for you!

Keeping your Board Grounded in Mission