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An online board meeting is a great method for a nonprofit’s board of directors to meet online, without the need for travel. Meetings online can present unique problems. Certain issues can be resolved simply by using the right tools to meet the needs of your board however others require more thought and care. There are many tools to help you organize your online board meeting in a way that is efficient.

A well-planned agenda will allow you to maximize the effectiveness of your online board meeting. Include specific discussions topics, in addition to the time limit and the expected conclusion. This will keep the meetings on track and prevent them from diverting from the main topic or taking up too much time.

Before you begin your meeting, it’s a great idea to ensure that all board members are aware of the tools and programs they’ll need. Make clear the steps to log into the video conference and to encourage them to close any programs which could consume bandwidth or interfere with audio. Also, remind them to avoid the bright lighting of the room when they’re joining to avoid making it difficult for other attendees to see their screens.

The best tool for facilitating an online board meeting would be a collaboration application. This will allow board members to effortlessly prepare for meetings via virtual technology and also attend them. Select an app that has a boardbook builder that will help you cut down on the time required to plan meetings. It should also include an option to distribute meeting materials and agendas in advance. Look for an app which lets you share documents in real-time and lets participants highlight and add annotations.