Best Board Management Software For Nonprofits Compared

Leading an organization is always a challenging task, but things are trickier for nonprofit boards.

They have to achieve maximum efficiency to maintain donors’ confidence and make sure the organization is moving in the right direction. That is why nonprofits invest in efficiency-boosting digital platforms like board portal software to ensure secure and smooth collaboration between board members.

However, there is another side to the story; board portal technology is quickly replacing traditional meeting tools, and the billion-dollar market is growing rapidly. That also means there are so many options in the market, which is a good thing, and tricky as well. A large number of online board portal vendors are operating in the market, which means customers have tough choices to make.

We have compiled a list and detailed comparison of some of the best board software for nonprofits. Let’s start with a brief introduction to board portal technology.

What Is Board Management Software, And Why Is It Important For Nonprofits?

Board portal is an online document management and board meeting software used by board members and executives for board data management and online collaboration.  It is an all-in-one digital platform for board members that allows them to perform their duties in a more efficient manner.

Board portals are used by all types of organizations, including public companies, private companies, nonprofits, government institutes, and associations.  They have become highly important for nonprofits for multiple reasons:

Document security

Data security becomes more important and challenging when organizations use online channels. Board portals make sure that the leadership in nonprofit organizations can stay ahead of security challenges. These Drata vs Vanta solutions are generally GDPR, SOC 2, and ISO 27001-compliant, which makes them secure and trustworthy options. Secure board software comes with advanced security features like MFA, access permissions, audit logs, and digital watermarks.

Streamlined board meetings

As mentioned earlier, board portals are all-in-one tools. They are centralized document storage platforms, which means board members can access data during meetings or whenever needed.

Apart from that, high-end board portals have all the necessary tools for online meetings. Meeting organizers can

•    Make a meeting agenda using built-in templates
•   Design meeting calendars and share them with everyone in the boardroom. Record meetings to ensure all discussions and decisions are accurately documented and accessible later.
•   Record meeting minutes using customizable templates and send them to the concerned boardroom users
•   Get important documents signed through the electronic signatures feature

Transparency 

Transparent operations are important to win donors’ trust, and virtual boardrooms help NPOs achieve that. The audit log feature in board portals provides detailed user activity reports. This means donors can keep track of all boardroom activities and stay updated.

Nonprofit Board Portals At A Glance

Top 5 Board Meeting Management Software For Nonprofits

The following board portals have earned a great reputation in nonprofits and other industries. Here is a board portal software for nonprofits comparison.

Ideals Boards

Ideals Board is a fully secure digital board meeting portal that makes board document management and meetings seamless and efficient. The app updates and syncs data automatically when the device connects to the internet. Ideals offers cloud-based as well as on-premise options, giving users flexibility based on their needs.

Notable Features:

• Access Permissions
• Agenda Management
• Approval Process Control
• Calendar Management
• Document Management
• Meeting Notes
• Secure Data Storage
• Task Management

Best For:

• Nonprofits
• Councils
• Corporations
• Government organizations

Free Trials: Yes

Diligent Boards

Diligent’s board software includes tools that help analyze reports and track how people use board materials. It shows when users access documents and how they interact with them. The software also has a strong search feature, making it easy to find files quickly.

Notable Features:

• Access Controls
• Approval Process Control
• Calendar Management
• Document Management
• Task Management
• Meeting Notes

Best For:

• Public companies
• Private companies
• Nonprofit organizations

Free Trials: Yes

BoardEffect

BoardEffect is not just for executives or directors. Corporate teams can also use it to manage board documents, schedule and run meetings, store files, search for information, vote, send messages, and receive updates. It supports Linux, Mac, Windows, and mobile devices. This makes it easily accessible to everyone.

Notable Features:

• Calendar Management
• Task Management
• Secure Data Storage
• Access Permissions
• Document Management
• Meeting Notes
• Approval Process Control

Best For:

• Nonprofits
• Higher education institutions
• Community
• Healthcare organizations
• Credit unions
• Community banks

Free Trials: No

BoardBookit (by Govenda)

BoardBookit is specifically developed to make life easier for board members by tackling routine challenges. The app is simple to use and keeps improving with regular updates to make sure it stays useful and current.

Notable Features:

• Task Management
• Approval Process Control
• Secure Data Storage
• Meeting Notes
• Document Management
• Calendar Management
• Agenda Management
• Access Permission Settings

Best For:

• Board professionals
• Board members
• Executive leadership
• Information Technology
• Private companies
• Pre-IPO companies
• Public companies

Free Trials: Yes

Boardable

Boardable helps board members collaborate with ease, run better meetings, and manage tasks more smoothly. Many nonprofit boards struggle to find software that fits their needs, but Boardable was created by people who understand nonprofits. It helps save time and makes boards more efficient by offering tools that support teamwork and improve how the whole organization works.

Notable Features:

• Agenda Management
• Access Controls
• Approval Process Control
• Calendar Management
• Document Management
• Meeting Notes
• Task Management
• Secure Data Storage

Best For:

• Nonprofits
• Associations
• Healthcare
• Real estate
• Education
• Technology
• Government institutions

Free Trials: Yes

Free Trials And Low-Cost Options For Small Nonprofits

Four of the five portals here offer a free trial, so a small board can test agendas, document sharing and voting before committing. Dedicated board portals are usually paid subscriptions priced by the number of board members or features, and some vendors offer nonprofit pricing, so ask for it. Very small boards sometimes start with shared drives and a calendar, then move to a board portal when security, voting records or document control become a problem.

Key Features To Look For In A Nonprofit Board Portal

• Agenda and meeting management: building agendas, scheduling meetings and keeping minutes in one place.
• Secure document storage: board packs with access permissions, so confidential papers stay confidential.
• Voting and approvals: recording motions and approvals with an audit trail.
• Task management: tracking action items between meetings.
• Ease of use: volunteer board members need something they can learn quickly on any device.
• Security and compliance: encryption, access controls and recognized data privacy standards.

Important tips to remember when choosing board of directors software

•   Always go for a secure board portal vendor that at least complies with ISO data privacy standards.
•   Choose a virtual boardroom vendor that offers tailored solutions for nonprofit organizations
•   Read online customer reviews from trusted software review websites
•   The software must support third-party app integration and should be accessible from Desktop and Mobile devices.
•   Always ask for a free demo or trial. 

Related on ReVerb: Church Management Software

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free board management software for nonprofits?

Most dedicated board portals are paid, but Ideals Boards, Diligent Boards, BoardBookit and Boardable all offer free trials, so a nonprofit can test them before paying. Ask vendors about nonprofit discounts as well.

What is a board portal?

A board portal is secure software where board members get meeting packs, agendas and minutes, vote on motions and track tasks, instead of relying on email attachments and printed papers.

Do small nonprofits need board management software?

Not always. A very small board can manage with shared drives and email. Board software becomes worth it when the board grows, handles confidential documents or needs a clear record of votes and decisions.