AI in the Nonprofit Boardroom

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These days, it’s nearly impossible to open a news site, scroll through social media, or attend a professional event without hearing about AI at least once. But AI isn’t just another buzzword. Instead, it’s a game-changing technology transforming all types of organizations.

Nonprofit organizations are no exception.

Recently, Josh Palmer, Head of Content & Research at OnBoard, sat down with Tina Kimbrough, Executive Director of The Nord Family Foundation, and Heather Hansson, Senior Director of Product at OnBoard, to explore how nonprofit boards can tap into AI to eliminate friction and maximize impact. During the discussion, attendees learned how:

Nonprofit boards are using AI to increase efficiency and stay mission-focused, based on a recent survey of nonprofit board professionals.
The board at the Nord Family Foundation is leveraging AI to boost efficiency and increase impact.
OnBoard’s secure AI Suite empowers directors to spend less time on logistics and more time on mission-driven work.

Read on to explore key takeaways from this timely, compelling discussion.

AI Adoption is Widespread in the Nonprofit Sector

It’s easy to assume that only the most tech-savvy nonprofits are using AI. But the data tells a different story.

In a recent survey conducted by OnBoard in partnership with Microsoft Tech for Social Impact, more than 100 nonprofit professionals were asked about their AI usage. The survey found:

84% have used AI in the past six months.
82% were satisfied or very satisfied with the results.
Among those who haven’t used it, 73% plan to do so within the next 180 days.

“This really speaks to the democratization of AI as a tool that anybody can use to further their goals and their work,” said Palmer.

On average, nonprofit board members are using between one and two AI tools. ChatGPT is the most commonly used tool, but others like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini also show up frequently. In addition to standalone AI tools, nonprofit board directors also use features embedded in other platforms like Zoom and Canva.

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AI is an Impactful Tool in the Boardroom

By now, it’s clear that AI can have a positive impact on our lives. So it’s not surprising that many nonprofit board professionals are open to using it in the boardroom.

Seven in 10 (70%) of survey respondents would consider using AI to support nonprofit board meetings. Another 17% aren’t sure, but they’re interested in learning more.

“AI is almost purpose-built to help you surface the information you need to enable better discussions and deliberation in the boardroom,” said Palmer.

When it comes to leveraging AI in the boardroom, the possibilities are endless. However, the survey found that some of the most common ways boards would use AI in the boardroom include:

Meeting minutes automation
Document summaries
Director prep
Search and recall
Board book creation
Analysis and decisions

The Nord Family Foundation, which is an Ohio-based organization that awards over $10 million in grants annually, has experienced the benefits of AI firsthand – particularly in automating board meeting minutes. Tina Kimbrough, the organization’s Executive Director, explained that in the past, creating minutes was a labor-intensive endeavor that was prone to human error. A staff member was responsible for note-taking during the meeting, which prevented her from fully participating in the discussions.

Today, the organization’s 12-member board of trustees relies on OnBoard’s Minutes AI feature. “AI-generated minutes allow us to streamline the process, improve accuracy, and free up staff to engage more meaningfully during meetings,” said Kimbrough.

AI Introduces Unique Concerns for Nonprofits

Artificial intelligence can significantly boost the effectiveness and efficiency of nonprofit boards. While the potential of AI is exciting, it’s important to approach it with thoughtful caution.

In the survey, nonprofit board professionals identified several top concerns around AI adoption, including:

Security
Lack of skill
Privacy
Potential bias

The team at The Nord Family Foundation had its share of concerns about implementing AI. Board members knew they’d need to choose a solution that would address these concerns. OnBoard fit the bill.

OnBoard is built on enterprise-grade Microsoft Azure infrastructure, and security and compliance are the foundation of the platform. OnBoard is isolated, encrypted, and protected, and each customer’s data is private and never used to train OpenAI or any other model. In addition, OnBoard holds globally recognized ISO 27001 and 27701 and SOC 2 Type II certifications and is compliant with HIPAA and GDPR standards.

“We wanted to pay attention to privacy, security, and reliability. But data privacy was really number one,” Kimbrough explained. “[With OnBoard], everything would be secure, and the platform wouldn’t share data to be used to train AI models.”

Accuracy and reliability were also key concerns.

“There are a lot of AI products, but not all are accurate,” Kimbrough noted. “We wanted to make sure accuracy was being tested regularly. That helped alleviate some of the stress we had when we were thinking about implementing [AI].”

“Everyone is going to have to adapt and embrace change,” she continued. “Do it in a way that you feel comfortable. Always do your research. Make sure every question you have is answered before you fully implement.”

A Phased Approach to AI Adoption Works Best

Change – even when it’s for the better – can be challenging. This is certainly true in nonprofit boardrooms, when directors have varying levels of comfort with technology.

Kimbrough offered the following advice: “I always recommend taking a phased approach to adoption. Bring people along with you. Answer their questions. Help them navigate the changes.”

Rather than rushing into full-scale implementation, the foundation introduced AI features gradually, starting with pilot use in smaller settings like committee meetings.

“We have three board meetings per year, but we also have committee meetings more frequently,” Kimbrough explained. “Those can be a good opportunity to try new tools. We’ve found that to be very helpful.”

OnBoard’s AI Suite is Designed for Better Board Meetings

OnBoard is an intuitive, innovative board portal that transforms how boards meet, plan, and govern. The platform’s next generation AI amplifies this impact.

“One of our goals is to remove friction from board work so directors can spend less time on logistics and more time on the mission,” explained Heather Hansson, OnBoard’s Senior Director of Product.

Key AI offerings include:

Agenda AI: Helps meeting administrators efficiently build meeting agendas
Book AI: Summarizes board materials so directors can show up to meetings prepared

Assist AI: Acts as a digital assistant for directors by summarizing documents, identifying risks, and suggesting questions

Minutes AI: Streamlines the process of creating meeting minutes

Insights AI: Analyzes meetings to improve leadership focus

Actions AI: Automatically triggers tasks and follow-ups

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Hansson. “We have other exciting features. We’re continuing to target the most critical and time-consuming processes nonprofit boards are facing today.”

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About The Author

Adam Wire: Adam Wire is a Content Marketing Manager at OnBoard who joined the company in 2021. A Ball State University graduate, Adam worked in various content marketing roles at Angi, USA Football, and Adult & Child Health following a 12-year career in newspapers. His favorite part of the job is problem-solving and helping teammates achieve their goals. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and two dogs. He’s an avid sports fan and foodie who also enjoys lawn and yard work and running.