How to get your board's buy-in
Written by zoe ALEXIS WHITEHORN
We’ve all been there. You and your team have poured endless hours into crafting the perfect communications strategy or advocacy plan. You’re proud, you’re excited… but there’s one last step: bringing it to your board.
As a leader at a foundation or nonprofit, you know that board buy-in is so much more than a rubber stamp or a vote of approval. You want early, sustained trust and partnership that turns a great plan into a smashing success. Getting to that feeling of being "all in" together is the result of a thoughtful, ongoing process.
Here are four simple shifts in the way you work to get that process in motion and earn that buy-in… every time.
SHIFT #1: SEEK COLLABORATION, NOT APPROVAL
Often, we wait until a plan is perfect before sharing it. But true partnership should begin much earlier. To get genuine buy-in, let the board in on the “behind-the-scenes” of your strategy and show your work, as early as possible.
This demonstrates that you value their perspective and gives them an opportunity to share real feedback, which fosters a sense of shared commitment (and excitement!)
SHIFT #2: BUILD REAL UNDERSTANDING
Board members are often dedicated volunteers with full-time jobs and overflowing inboxes. The kindest and most effective thing you can do is share context thoroughly and often.
This shift means inviting the board into the narrative every time you have the opportunity. (No dry, isolated updates here!) Connect your work and plans to a past decision they helped make. You can warmly ground each touchpoint by answering background questions like:
How did we arrive here?
What important decisions has the board already approved?
What’s coming up next and why?
This approach respects their time and their work… and makes saying "yes" the natural next step on a journey they’re on alongside you.
SHIFT #3: ALIGN WITH THEIR VISION
Remember: Your board’s primary focus is the organization's mission and strategic plan. Meanwhile, you’ve worked hard to create communications plans and objectives grounded in the organization’s overarching goals. To get them amped up, you have to show them how your communications or advocacy plan is a critical tool for achieving *their* ultimate vision.
This simple act connects the dots for board members and helps frame your work not as a separate agenda, but as the engine that drives your organization’s goals — whether that's building advocacy capacity in the community or deepening engagement with partners.
SHIFT #4: ANCHOR IN THE WHY
It’s time to speak the language of outcomes, my friends.
Your board cares deeply about impact. While your team may be thrilled about the details of a campaign (we nerd out on planning, too!), members want to understand the "why" and the tangible results your work will deliver.
When asking for resources or launching a new initiative, lead with your why. Then, connect each step that you’ll take to a realistic goal with measurable impact. Instead of just listing your to-dos, answer the questions they’re already asking:
How will this plan allow us to reach our target audiences?
What metrics will you track to show success?
How do those measurements map directly to the strategic action plan?
Communicating with your board early, consistently and with kindness isn't just about getting a 'yes.' It's about transforming them from a simple audience into your strongest allies, making the journey more collaborative and the path to success smoother!
