Your best prospects are often your busiest—balancing demanding careers, family responsibilities, and packed schedules. Yet, one of the most effective ways to engage these high-potential individuals is by involving them on advisory or leadership boards. The challenge? Board meetings typically require a significant time commitment and, in many cases, travel. So how do you ensure your top prospects show up in person?
Here are a few proven strategies to boost attendance and deepen engagement:
1. Invite Them to Present
People make time for what feels meaningful. Ask your prospect to present at an upcoming board meeting on a topic aligned with their expertise and interests. Reach out a month or two in advance so they can prepare—and prioritize being there. For example, one of our computing advisory board members had a background in K–12 education and AI. We invited him to share insights on how artificial intelligence is impacting high school students’ interest in computing. He made the effort to attend—and gave one of the most memorable talks of the year.
2. Make Room for Industry Spotlights
Top prospects love to share what’s happening in their world. Build in an agenda item for board members to offer brief updates about trends, milestones, or news from their industries. One board member I worked with had just closed a major deal with a large tech firm. When we gave him the chance to talk about it at the meeting, it confirmed his attendance.
3. Anchor the Meeting Around a Signature Event
Plan your board meeting around a high-profile university or organizational event that members will want to attend anyway. Whether it’s Homecoming, a campaign launch, or a naming ceremony, tying the meeting to a memorable occasion adds extra incentive. One of our board members had recently named a space on campus, so we scheduled a ribbon-cutting as the final item on the agenda—it guaranteed his attendance.
4. Eliminate the Zoom Option
While virtual participation can be convenient, it often becomes a fallback that reduces in-person engagement. If your goal is meaningful relationship-building, skip the Zoom link. When board members know the only way to fully participate is by showing up, they’re more likely to make the trip.
By implementing these strategies, you’ll not only improve attendance at your board meetings—you’ll deepen engagement, spark meaningful conversations, and create moments that move your top prospects closer to transformative giving.
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