What Every New Board Member Should Know in Their First 90 Days
Danielle Jessup, CMP
Welcoming a new board member doesn’t have to feel like starting from scratch every time. With a little planning, you can create a smoother, more impactful onboarding experience—both for the incoming members and your organization.
One effective approach? A self-paced online video series. It gives new board members the flexibility to learn on their own schedule, while still ensuring they’re equipped with the essentials. And if you keep the content general enough, you’ll only need to build it once and reuse it year after year.
The first 90 days are critical. This is when members get grounded in your organization’s purpose, understand their role, and start contributing meaningfully. A thoughtful, informed onboarding process helps build trust in the organization, strengthen peer relationships, and set members up for a successful board experience.
Session 1: Get Grounded in Governance
Mission and Vision
- Staff: Share the organization’s mission, values, and vision (if available).
- Member Takeaway: Understand what your organization stands for—this is your north star.
Bylaws and Policies
- Staff: Explain the role of governance documents and how to access them.
- Member Takeaway: Familiarize yourself with decision-making processes, board terms, voting rules, and more.
Fiduciary Duties
- Staff: Break down the core responsibilities: Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, and Duty of Obedience.
- Member Takeaway: Know your legal and ethical obligations. Write down your key takeaways.
Strategic Plan
- Staff: Provide the strategic plan and any supporting documents.
- Member Takeaway: Learn the organization’s priorities and where your work will contribute.
Session 2: Get to Know the People and Structure
Roles of Staff and Board
- Staff: Clarify board vs. staff responsibilities and highlight the importance of a trust-based partnership.
- Member Takeaway: Know who takes the lead in different situations and build trust in those roles.
Learn About the Committees
- Staff: Provide an overview of committees, their chairs, and current action plans.
- Member Takeaway: Consider where your interests and expertise align—committees are a great place to dive in.
Clarify Time Commitments
- Staff: Share an annual calendar with meetings, deadlines, and expectations.
- Member Takeaway: Understand your time commitments and what preparation is required for each meeting.
Session 3: Start Participating Thoughtfully
Review Agendas and Packets Thoroughly
- Staff: Share sample agendas and minutes, plus a preparation checklist.
- Member Takeaway: Come to meetings ready to engage—asking early is better than faking understanding.
Contribute Strategically
- Staff: Invite and encourage participation from new members.
- Member Takeaway: Focus on mission-driven insights, thoughtful questions, and ideas. Avoid personal opinions. This builds credibility and trust.
Helpful Add-Ons
- Downloadable 90-Day Checklist for New Board Members
- A Board Member Glossary with key terms like AMS, fiduciary, quorum, etc.
- A Quick Guide to Parliamentary Procedures
Consider an approach like this to get your board started off on the right foot!
Danielle Jessup, CMP – holds over 14 years’ experience in association and organizational management. She works in the capacity as an executive director for both state and national associations. Danielle holds a B.S. degree from The Florida State University. Fun Fact: Danielle enjoys spending her free time outside with her family, preferably somewhere in the water. She also spends a good amount of time on the ball field and in a dance school with her two kids.
