With the pandemic declining and vaccines now available, organizations are returning to face-to-face fundraising and other initiatives. However, the pandemic has also forced many boards to reconsider their meeting schedules to ensure that board members be connected safely and maintain momentum. Hybrid board meetings permit members of the board to attend in person while another is able to join remotely. This strategy is effective at generating engagement and reducing costs, while providing the flexibility required for a modern nonprofit.
To ensure that your hybrid board meetings are productive, it is important to plan ahead and adhere to the best practices. To do this, begin by establishing the goals of your meeting and establishing the details for your meeting, including the location and the equipment requirements. It is recommended to choose the venue that is big enough to hold in-person attendees and one that has the audio-visual equipment required to allow for those coming from distant locations. It is also crucial to select the right virtual meeting software. The software should be simple to use, and include a high-quality video conference feature that lets participants see each others and the documents of the meeting simultaneously.
Distributing the agenda and board materials well in advance is essential. This will save the time spent getting remote and in-person attendees on the same page. Additionally it can help you keep the focus of your gathering, and ensure that all relevant topics are addressed.