You’ve recruited your first board, set up your board meetings, and now your new board members are asking, “What do I do now?”
It is time for everyone’s favorite activity! Training!🎉🎉
Let’s face it: most board orientations are about as exciting as watching paint dry. Discussions on budgets, policies, ethics, communication styles are the norm agenda items. New board members sit through a two-hour meeting, get handed a massive binder they’ll never open again, and are expected to hit the ground running. Then we wonder why it takes them six months to fully engage!
As an ED who’s onboarded dozens of board members (with varying degrees of success), I’ve learned that orientation isn’t an event, it’s a process. And when done right, it can shave months off the “getting up to speed” phase.
Pro tip: Don’t ignore board orientation. If you put it off for too long, the issues you’ll have to deal with in the future will take more time and energy.
The orientation timeline your board members actually need
Before they say “yes”
Orientation starts during recruitment. Be crystal clear about expectations, including:
- Specific time commitments (meetings, events, committee work)
- Financial obligations (give/get requirements – this means money)
- Legal responsibilities
- Term length and renewal possibilities
- Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, Duty of Obedience
No surprises on expections means no early resignations!
First 48 hours after appointment
Strike while enthusiasm is high! Send a welcome email with:
- A personal note from the board chair (or yourself if this is a new board)
- Login credentials for your board portal/document storage
- Calendar invites for the next 3-6 months of meetings
- A simple “quick start” one-pager (not a massive manual)
Week one
Time to schedule a 30-minute coffee (virtual or in-person) with the ED and board chair. This isn’t for policies and procedures—it’s for relationship building. Ask about their “why” for joining and share yours.
First month
If this is a new board, schedule 1-to-1 meetings with each person to develop a relationship and answer any questions.
Have an established board? Assign a board buddy—an experienced member who checks in weekly and sits next to the new member at the first meeting. This person should proactively reach out, not wait for questions.
First board meeting
Don’t just introduce them and move on! Create space for meaningful connection:
- Use an icebreaker that highlights skills and interests
- Provide name tents/visible name identification
- Give them a specific, manageable task to complete
- Follow up the next day to answer questions they might have been too intimidated to ask
The welcome packet that won’t end up in a drawer
Ditch the 50-page manual. Instead, create a digital, scannable resource with:
- The essentials one-pager: Meeting schedule, contact list, login credentials
- Mission impact sheet: Key stats and stories showing your organization’s work
- Board responsibility checklist: What’s expected in the first 30/60/90 days
- Financial dashboard: Simple visual of current financial health
- Strategic plan snapshot: One-page visual of key priorities
- Governance at a glance: Committee structure and where they fit in
Pro tip: Create short welcome videos (2-3 minutes each) from current board members sharing their experience and advice. These can be emailed and stored on the board dashboard for easy access anytime.
Action steps for better orientation:
- Survey your current board about what they wish they’d known in their first three months.
- Create a board buddy system with clear expectations for the experienced members.
- Develop a 90-day onboarding calendar for new members with specific touchpoints.
- Reimagine your welcome materials as digital, visual, and action-oriented resources.
- Schedule mid-point check-ins at 3 and 6 months to gather feedback on the orientation process.
Remember, every minute you invest in proper orientation saves hours of confusion, disengagement, and potential turnover later. Your mission is too important for anything less than fully engaged board members from day one.
What’s your best tip for making new board members feel welcome and prepared? Share below!
Let’s discuss your board orientation! Schedule a free coffee chat today to learn more.
