Sleepy Board? Here are 5 Tips to Increase Engagement
November 6, 2025 | By David M. Wagner
As it turns out, recruiting quality board members is only half the battle.
Once you get them in the door, you have to keep them engaged.
I spoke with a board chair who was really struggling to keep her board engaged. Only a handful of board members were fully involved, carrying much of the work for the team. And participation in fundraising had fallen below 100%.
I know she’s not alone – partly based on my clients’ anecdotal experiences, and partly because the National Council of Nonprofits has twice as many articles on “board engagement” than “board recruitment.”
And if her situation reminds you of yours (as a nonprofit leader or the member of a less-than-engaged board), here are 5 ways to reignite active board participation.
Ask them to Do Something (Specific)
Find a tangible, meaningful, and specific way for board members to contribute, even if it’s something small.
It takes a bit a bit more effort, but a request to “find the right contact for corporate giving at Joe’s Tire Shack” is more likely to spur engagement than “help raise money!”
Share up front the impact their help will make. Thank them afterwards.
Sometimes it’s just about creating a bit of momentum, starting with the first step.
Ask for Advice
Bring your board a challenge, decision, or long-term need where their advice would be helpful.
(That challenge could even be: How do we increase board engagement? What norms do we want to set for involvement and commitment by board members?)
And here’s a pro tip: try sharing a partially-developed idea and asking for feedback. You’ll likely get more input than just by asking an open-ended question.
Asking for advice is a great way to cultivate a sense of ownership among board members.
Inject New Life into your Board
Your board, like any team, will work best when there’s balance between:
Idea-generators and task-doers
Diverse personalities and perspectives
Different skillsets and professional backgrounds
What’s missing on yours? Adding someone with the right energy or temperament might be all it takes to unlock your board’s potential!
Look for board assessment tools that can help point out gaps or imbalances and engage your board in a conversation about board candidates who could round out the team.
Reinforce Your Shared “Why”
In their focus on conducting business, boards sometimes lose sight of what brings everyone together.
Create opportunities that help board members connect with the purpose, mission, and values that they share with your organization, such as:
Including “mission moments” in board meetings to showcase the real stories of your organization’s impact
Encourage board members to participate, as volunteers, in a program activity or support function (even if just for a few hours)
Invite board members to join you on a thank-you call to a donor (even if just to listen, so they can hear how others’ contributions are impact the organization)
Tangible reminders of why your organization’s work – and why their contributions matter so much – can help get your board back on track.
Thank Them
The simplest, sincere expression of gratitude – even for a small contribution of money, advice, or effort – can go a long, long way in warming up a stakeholder who has gone cold.
Yeah, this one’s short. It’s really that simple.
Your organization deserves a committed, engaged board. Some small steps can help wake up a “sleepy” board. Set a time to chat with me if you’ve tried everything above and need a more involved strategy!