Organizing an international nonprofit board meeting can be a significant undertaking. However, with that effort comes unique opportunities that are less likely to occur in static corporate settings. Here are a few reasons why bringing your nonprofit board to a travel destination where your work is established is worthwhile.
Inspiration
Nothing is more impactful than witnessing the work and meeting the changemakers of an organization. No gala, no PowerPoint presentation, and no conversation can emotionally connect someone to the work more effectively than an in-person visit. This type of experience can invigorate a board member to commit more fiercely to the mission. When something is so far removed over time, it becomes an abstraction, and there is a detachment to it that naturally occurs. When someone can personalize their work through in-person connections, it helps invigorate them, increase morale, makes them ready for action and helps sustain individuals to support a nonprofit organization through all the ups and downs that can occur.
Effective Education
The work international development organizations do is complex. We tend to oversimplify these topics and make them more digestible. But your board members should be required to know your work deeply. When you are able to get out of your silo and visit the work, explore the complexities, dynamics, and geography, and do a deep dive into learning, a more sophisticated understanding of your work emerges. These experiences help to dispel misconceptions and allow your board members to become more informed and articulate ambassadors of your work. They can also be more effective partners and thought leaders when challenges arise.
Innovation
Most people don’t think about the psychological effect travel can have on the brain. However, travel is inherently destabilizing because we no longer have a routine. When people no longer have a routine, they are more likely to avoid habits or habitual behavior. When people are divorced from their habits, they are more likely to align their behavior with their values and think more creatively, encouraging neuroplasticity. This disruption can lead to innovative thinking, more collaboration, and openness to new ideas. Taking advantage of an international location at a nonprofit board meeting can be a productive disruption to the status quo thinking.
Assessment
Philanthropic travel allows us to expedite awareness and learning of other people. These in-person international board retreats can illuminate whether a board member fits your organization well. You can determine if your values are aligned with these board members. If board members are giving at their full potential? Does a board member have additional time or talent to support your work? If a board member is an ambassador that you are proud to have on your board? Creating a nonprofit board retreat invites a productive assessment of others, not just the organization’s work.
Connection
Perhaps most importantly, a destination board meeting holds the power to create a profound and lasting impact by bringing together local beneficiaries, staff, donors, philanthropic travelers and board members. When these stakeholders meet, more meaningful relationships are generated. What seems like a “soft” outcome, better relationships can be the most transformative for an organization. Our relationships with board members, community members, and staff can uplift an organization through change and ensure staff and communities are well taken care of throughout the years. In short, excellent relationships translate into long-term resilience.
Next Steps
If you are planning an international nonprofit board meeting and want to stay focused on education rather than the logistical details, contact Elevate Destinations. We manage all of the details below, which saves over 500 hours of work for our clients. A summary of some of our most common deliverables is listed below.
- Trip Materials: Curating a centralized online portal for important trip information.
- Traveler Management: Gathering essential participant details for comprehensive care before and during the trip, from flights to visa requirements and dietary restrictions.
- Special Events: Arranging unique experiences like a catered meal at a local art gallery or a special welcome event with live music or dancers.
- Ground Logistics: Organizing hotels, transportation, and restaurant reservations that coincide with the agenda.
- Management & Staffing: Staffing the program with a local trip manager to ensure seamless logistics.
- Meeting Space & Technology: Handling meeting setup, equipment, materials, and technology needs.
- Sightseeing: Recommending and organizing activities and tours to fill in any free time and further connect the traveler to the destination.
- Emergency Support: Monitoring safety and security issues, developing protocols, prioritizing safety, and providing evacuation insurance. In the worst-case scenario, our team is trained and ready to implement those protocols and do everything in our power to ensure the safety of your stakeholders and staff.
- Beyond the Meeting: Want to invite stakeholders’ family members or other donors to join the trip? We can organize various activities while board-specific events take place.
To find out more about planning an international nonprofit board meeting, reach out to Katherine through our contact form.
