By Gail Perry

Updated August 2025

Strong boards don’t just happen — they’re cultivated.
One of the fastest ways to strengthen your nonprofit’s leadership is to focus on board and trustee engagement. A truly effective board is more than a governing body.

It’s a network of champions, connectors, and advocates who believe in your mission so deeply that they’re willing to act on its behalf.

Over the years, we’ve developed a framework for energizing board members – and it starts with one simple but powerful step: raising their energy and reconnecting them to their personal “why.”

How to Fire Up Your Board’s Energy and Engagement

Do you ever wish you could reignite your board’s energy?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every member of your leadership team came to meetings eager, engaged, and excited about their role?

Just think what you could accomplish with a group of well-connected, influential, and passionate board members – all bringing their best ideas, relationships, and commitment to the table.

This is exactly what our consulting clients want for their boards and leadership teams. And here’s the good news: it’s possible.

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Why Energy Is the First Step in Leadership Engagement

The first step in engaging your board is ensuring their enthusiasm is high.

I once read that emotion inspires action, while reason leads to conclusions. This is particularly true for nonprofit leadership. If you want board members to go beyond attending meetings – to become ambassadors, advocates, and fundraisers – you need to connect with them emotionally first.

When you touch a leader’s heart, you light the spark that leads to action.

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The Power of Personal Stories in Board Leadership

Every single board member has a personal reason for serving your organization.

Sometimes it’s a deep personal experience with your mission. Sometimes it’s the joy of seeing your programs change lives.

These stories aren’t just nice to have – they’re your leadership’s most powerful advocacy tools. When a board member shares why they care, they’re offering an impact statement at the highest level. And because it comes from the heart, it’s memorable, authentic, and persuasive.

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A Proven Board Engagement Strategy: The Mingle Exercise

One of the best ways to tap into this personal passion is what we call the Mingle Exercise – and it works every time.

We use it to open almost all our Easy Fundraising for Board Members and Leaders retreats, and it’s a guaranteed success.

Here’s how it works: board members simply mingle around the room, sharing with one another their personal reason for caring about the organization’s work.

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How to Run the Mingle Exercise with Your Leadership Team

1. Start with the right question
   Ask: “Why do you personally care about this organization?” This may be an unusual question for your leadership team — they’re often too focused on efficiency and decision-making to go deeper.

2. Invite reflection
   Give each board member a moment to jot down some notes. Encourage them to think about what they would say if they were talking with a friend, colleague, or potential donor.

3. Explain the process

   • Stand up and find a partner.

   • Introduce yourself (even if you think they know you).

   • Share your personal story — no more than 30 seconds each.

   • Listen actively when it’s the other person’s turn.

4. Rotate partners
   Keep things moving. Call out “Change partners!” every minute or so until each participant has spoken with at least four others.

5. Debrief as a group
   Ask:

   • What was this experience like?

   • What did you hear that inspired you?

   • How did the energy in the room change?

   • Was it easy or difficult to share your story?

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Why the Mingle Exercise Works for Boards and Leadership

The Mingle Exercise delivers far more than just a “feel-good” moment. Here’s why it’s a favorite among our clients:

• Reignites passion for the mission — leaders remember why they joined in the first place.

• Opens the door to fundraising conversations in a natural, comfortable way.

• Strengthens camaraderie and relationships among board members.

• Gives practice in telling their personal story, a vital skill for donor engagement.

• Adds energy and fun to board gatherings, which are often overly formal.

• Provides peer learning — leadership members gain new perspectives from one another.

• Boosts morale and helps members feel proud of their involvement.

• Prepares the team to take action immediately after the meeting.

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Linking Energy to Action

When board members talk repeatedly about what sparks their enthusiasm, they don’t just inspire each other – they re-inspire themselves.

That’s when the magic happens:

• They’re more willing to reach out to donors.

• They’ll confidently share your mission with their networks.

• They’ll step up with new ideas and resources.

This isn’t just a warm-up exercise – it’s leadership development in action.

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The Best Time to Use the Mingle Exercise

Try it before a big strategy meeting, a fundraising discussion, or a board retreat. You’ll notice:

• The tone shifts immediately.

• Board members feel more connected to the mission.

• The meeting is more productive, collaborative, and inspiring.

We’ve seen this exercise transform meetings into some of the best, highest-energy sessions our clients have ever had with their leadership teams!