As nonprofits increasingly rely on technology to improve governance, board software has become a critical tool for simplifying board of directors’ lives by adding efficiency and security to board meetings.
Choosing the best board portals for nonprofits is essential, especially for companies with limited budgets and unique operational challenges.
In this guide, we dive into the question of board management software and compare top tools for nonprofit directors based on features, user experience, pricing, security, and more.
Whether managing a small nonprofit or a large multi-branch organization, understanding the nuances of each solution will help make the best choice.
Best nonprofit board management software comparison
| Features/Software | iDeals Board | BoardEffect | Diligent | OnBoard | Boardable | Azeus Convene |
| Overall Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Deployment | Cloud & On-Premise | Cloud-Based | Cloud-Based | Cloud-Based | Cloud-Based | Cloud & On-Premise |
| Pricing | $$ | $$ | $$$ | $$ | $ | $$ |
| User Experience | Advanced, excellent security | Very user-friendly, tailored for nonprofits | Extensive, built for larger organizations | Good for growing companies | Core tools, highly intuitive for small nonprofits | Solid, efficient, and secure |
| Features | Document storage, voting, compliance, encrypted messaging | Meeting scheduling, document signing, collaboration tools | Permissions, board books, presentations, compliance | Agenda building, task management, voting | Polls, document management, integration with Zoom | Document management, voting, risk management |
| Implementation | Simple, requires internal IT support for advanced features | Full onboarding and support for nonprofits | Full-service implementation with training | Easy to adopt, online tutorials and live support | Quick setup, self-service with help center | Guided implementation, full training for teams |
| Mobile Accessibility | Yes, iOS/Android | Yes, mobile app for all functions | Yes, robust mobile app | Yes, mobile support | Yes, with a mobile-optimized interface | Yes, full mobile functionality |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes | No, demo available | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The table above highlights several board portal solutions tailored for nonprofits. Each provider offers essential tools to store documents securely, handle document workflows, ensure secure communication, and schedule board meetings.
However, their specific strengths vary, and so do their user ratings, pricing models, and support features:
- iDeals Board is praised for its extensive security measures, including advanced encryption and compliance with GDPR and HIPAA, making it ideal for nonprofits handling sensitive donor or beneficiary information.
- BoardEffect is favored for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive document management features, which are particularly beneficial for nonprofit organizations with large volumes of governance materials.
What is board portal software?
Board portal software is a secure, centralized digital space that serves as a central location for managing critical governance tasks efficiently.
It enables board executives to oversee these tasks, acting as an organized virtual space that allows board committees to access and share important documents, collaborate in real time, and streamline administrative functions like scheduling, voting, and compliance tracking.
The key functions of board portal software for nonprofits include:
- Agenda planner: Organize board schedules and track time allocation throughout the year.
- Briefing tool: Improve the process for gathering author reports, ensuring submissions meet required standards.
- Auto-save: Prevent data loss by automatically saving work in progress.
- Drag-and-drop pack creation: Quickly and easily change board documents using a drag-and-drop interface.
- Notes and shareable annotations: Allow board members to prepare and collaborate by making and sharing notes before meetings.
- Robust search: Instantly locate information within past board materials through a powerful search feature.
- Offline access: Access board materials and prepare for meetings without an internet connection.
- Intuitive design: Ensure that even the least tech-savvy board members can easily navigate the software.
Board portals improve board governance and provide advanced features like data encryption, role-based access, and audit trails to protect sensitive information. In a nonprofit setting, where resources are often limited and regulations strict, using a secure board portal significantly improves operational efficiency while maintaining compliance.
The importance of board portals for nonprofits
For nonprofit organizations, board portals centralize communications, organize board activities efficiently, reduce paperwork, and ensure more secure operations.
These platforms are particularly important for nonprofits due to the often limited resources and the critical need for compliance with various regulations. Furthermore, nonprofit boards, many of which average 16 executives, face challenges like coordination and transparency across a diverse set of volunteers.
Nonprofits overcome these challenges using a board portal to ensure better governance, improve decision-making, and create a greater overall impact.
With board portal software, nonprofits can allocate more resources toward their mission rather than administrative overhead, thus driving greater value for the communities they serve.
Why nonprofits need board portals
Nonprofits face unique governance challenges that set them apart from for-profit entities. Budget constraints, compliance requirements, and a diverse group of board members — often volunteers lacking extensive governance background — make effective management a critical concern.
To address these specific needs, board portal software offers a centralized, protected space to help nonprofits improve their operations and enhance collaboration, ensuring their resources are allocated efficiently.
Specific needs of nonprofit organizations
- Resource constraints: Nonprofits typically operate with smaller budgets and leaner administrative teams compared to their for-profit counterparts. Therefore, board portals help alleviate the administrative burden by automating tasks like scheduling, document sharing, and compliance tracking. This allows board staff to focus on higher-value activities such as fundraising and community outreach. According to research, 61% of nonprofit boards cite internal resource constraints as a significant challenge.
- Compliance and data security: Nonprofits often handle sensitive donor information or work in industries like healthcare, where compliance with regulations such as HIPAA or GDPR is critical. Board portals ensure that all communications, documents, and transactions are encrypted and stored securely, minimizing the risk of data breaches.
- Effective collaboration across diverse boards: Nonprofits often have directors spread across different locations, many of whom may be volunteers with limited time. Efficient scheduling, real-time collaboration, and voting tools are essential to keep a board functioning smoothly. Solutions like iDeals offer tools for real-time collaboration, document sharing, and e-signatures, ensuring efficient decisions. Additionally, Boardable provides intuitive features that simplify collaboration for smaller board committees with fewer tech-savvy directors.
- Cost-efficiency: Cost is always a top concern for nonprofits. Many nonprofits require affordable solutions that provide robust features. BoardEffect and Boardable stand out in this category with their tiered pricing structures that make advanced board management tools accessible even for smaller organizations. Plus, BoardEffect offers a pricing model that does not penalize boards for growing or onboarding more members, which makes it a cost-effective option for scaling nonprofits.
- Succession planning and board turnover: Nonprofits often deal with frequent board turnover, making succession planning an ongoing challenge. BoardEffect and OnBoard offer built-in tools to help organize board evaluations and track performance and skills assessments, ensuring that companies are prepared for transitions. This helps nonprofits avoid disruptions and maintain governance continuity.
Top board management tools for nonprofits
- iDeals Board. iDeals is known for its comprehensive security features, including two-factor authentication and end-to-end encryption. Its robust document management system and ease of use make it a top choice for nonprofits focused on governance and compliance. However, its higher price point makes it a better-suited board portal for banks and other similar institutions.
- BoardEffect. BoardEffect is popular among nonprofits for its easy-to-use interface and affordable pricing. It offers essential features like document management, scheduling, and voting, making it suitable for nonprofits of all sizes.
- Diligent. A premium board portal software, Diligent is known for its extensive feature set and strong security measures. It’s suitable for large nonprofits with complex governance, which is why it’s considered the perfect board management software for government. On the downside, Diligent may be overkill for smaller organizations.
- OnBoard. OnBoard strikes a balance between affordability and functionality, offering the key tools nonprofits need, such as document management and communication, at a reasonable price. It’s especially favored for its mobile-friendly design.
- Boardable. Boardable is an affordable solution with a focus on smaller nonprofits. It offers essential features like document management, voting, polling, and scheduling.
- Azeus Convene. Azeus Convene offers robust security and compliance features, making it excellent board portal software for credit unions that need to adhere to strict regulatory standards. However, its interface is less intuitive.
Board portal providers overview
Now, let’s see what each of these board portal providers offers nonprofit companies.
1. iDeals Board
Features
iDeals Board offers a seamless collaboration platform that excels in document sharing and meeting management. It supports mobile and desktop applications, allowing users to oversee documents, meetings, and voting processes remotely. The platform’s customizable permissions and global search functions make it adaptable to various organizational needs, particularly when handling sensitive information across multiple regions.
User experience
The interface is intuitive, ensuring quick adoption even for non-technical users. With mobile apps, an iDeals Board allows on-the-go access to important materials and decision-making features, including real-time voting and document annotation.
Security and compliance
iDeals Board boasts high-security standards, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR compliance. Data is secured with AES 256-bit encryption and two-factor authentication to further protect sensitive data. This level of security is a top priority for boards managing confidential documents and transactions.
Customer support
iDeals Board offers 24/7 customer support via email, phone, and live chat that excels, complemented by a comprehensive help center with training materials, ensuring users fully leverage the platform’s features.
2. Diligent Boards
Features
Diligent Boards is known for its extensive governance tools, providing features like agenda building, meeting minutes automation, action item creation, document management, and voting. The tool integrates real-time collaboration and AI-powered tools for meeting summaries and agenda creation, enhancing decision-making efficiency. Additionally, Diligent offers market intelligence and board-specific insights, making it an ideal board management software for corporations.
- Tip: Find out how to choose board management software for crown corporations.
User experience
Diligent provides a clean and intuitive interface that allows users to transition seamlessly between tasks, such as online or offline document review and voting. The solution is available on mobile, ensuring that board members have uninterrupted access to critical materials anytime, anywhere.
Security and compliance
Diligent is an industry leader in security, adhering to ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II standards, along with GDPR compliance. It features end-to-end encryption and real-time monitoring, making it suitable for sectors requiring strict regulatory compliance, such as finance and healthcare.
Customer support
Diligent offers 24/7 support with dedicated success managers. They also provide in-depth onboarding assistance, live training sessions, and customized support plans to ensure the tool’s smooth adoption.
3. BoardEffect
Features
BoardEffect is designed with nonprofits in mind, offering key features like document storage, scheduling, task management, and voting capabilities. It also integrates collaboration tools, such as Microsoft 365 and Google Drive, making it a versatile option for smaller boards.
User experience
The tool is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easier for board members with limited technical skills to navigate and collaborate efficiently. This way, BoardEffect ensures a smooth user experience.
Security and compliance
BoardEffect ensures data security with AES-256 encryption, role-based access controls, and compliance with HIPAA and GDPR, making it suitable for nonprofits that handle sensitive donor or financial information.
Customer support
Users have access to responsive customer service via phone, live chat, and email. BoardEffect also offers various training resources, including webinars and detailed guides, tailored to nonprofits.
4. OnBoard
Features
OnBoard excels in real-time collaboration and AI-powered insights. Its features include document sharing, agenda building, minutes automation, and voting. The platform’s AI capabilities offer real-time insights and meeting summaries, enhancing decision-making and governance.
User experience
The platform is designed for ease of use, featuring a modern and intuitive interface. OnBoard allows board members to collaborate in real time, and the AI tools provide data-driven insights to enhance meeting efficiency.
Security and compliance
OnBoard is compliant with SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and GDPR, offering AES 256-bit encryption and two-factor authentication to ensure data security. It’s ideal for industries with strict regulatory requirements, such as healthcare, legal, or finance.
Customer support
OnBoard offers 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and live chat. Extensive training resources are available, including webinars and on-demand videos, ensuring users maximize the platform’s capabilities.
5. Boardable
Features
Boardable is a board management platform specifically designed for nonprofits, offering tools such as scheduling, agenda building, document management, and e-signature capabilities. It also supports real-time collaboration and polling, all for less than the average market price. It makes Boardable the best-suited board management software for small nonprofits.
User experience
Boardable emphasizes ease of use with its intuitive platform that allows even non-technical users to navigate effortlessly. Its integration with video conferencing tools enables remote collaboration, while features like agenda creation and board packet management make organizing meetings seamless.
Security and compliance
Boardable utilizes AES-256 encryption, two-factor authentication, and SOC 2 compliance to protect sensitive data. It is also HIPAA and GDPR-compliant, ensuring that nonprofits manage sensitive documents securely.
Customer support
Boardable offers comprehensive support, including access to the Boardable Academy for training resources, as well as 24/7 customer service via phone, email, and live chat. The platform is highly rated for its quick onboarding and ongoing support tailored to the needs of nonprofit boards.
6. Azeus Convene
Features
Azeus Convene offers a comprehensive range of tools, including document management, scheduling, e-signature capabilities, and real-time collaboration. It is especially suited for companies with a strong focus on security and compliance.
User experience
Azeus Convene is simple to use, with an intuitive interface designed for both desktop and mobile. It’s perfect for boards that need to conduct meetings remotely or in person, providing seamless transitions between devices.
Security and compliance
Azeus Convene meets the highest security standards, including ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II certifications, as well as GDPR compliance. It supports AES-256 encryption, making it a trusted choice for companies handling sensitive data.
Customer support
Customer support is available 24/7 through multiple channels. Azeus Convene provides attentive service and extensive training resources, helping users make the most of the platform’s security and collaboration features.
Choosing the best nonprofit board portal
When choosing the best board portal software for a nonprofit, consider these factors:
- Ease of use: Nonprofits often rely on volunteer board members, so software should be intuitive with minimal training requirements.
- Pricing: With tight budgets, choosing a solution that offers value is crucial. Look for software with transparent pricing and no hidden fees.
- Security: Given the sensitive nature of nonprofit data, opt for solutions that offer encryption, compliance with GDPR and HIPAA, and collaboration features.
- Customization: Ensure the software can be tailored to meet the organization’s specific governance and operational needs.
FAQs
1. What are the key features to look for in board management software for nonprofits?
Key features include document management for secure file storage, meeting scheduling with automatic reminders, and real-time collaboration through video conferencing and voting tools. Also, look for strong compliance and security measures like GDPR or HIPAA compliance. Ease of use is vital, especially for nonprofits with board members who may not be tech-savvy.
2. How much does a board portal cost?
Costs vary based on organization size and features but start as low as $79 per month for platforms like Boardable and BoardEffect. Larger, feature-rich solutions like Diligent Boards and iDeals typically offer custom pricing for larger nonprofits. Free or open-source tools are available but often lack advanced security and features.
3. Is board management software easy to use?
Yes, most platforms like Boardable and OnBoard are designed for ease of use with simple interfaces and features like drag-and-drop file management and automated meeting tools. These solutions are suitable even for less tech-savvy board members. Many providers offer demos to test user compatibility.
4. How secure is board management software?
Leading software platforms, including Diligent, iDeals, and Azeus Convene, use AES-256 encryption and two-factor authentication to comply with SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 standards. Many are also GDPR and HIPAA-compliant, ensuring maximum security for sensitive data. Admins should always choose software with robust security to protect board communications.