Board Liaisons Explained: Roles, Tools, and Impact

Secrets of Successful Board Liaisons with Katie Cordell |

What makes a high-functioning board run smoothly? A board liaison might be your secret weapon.

We welcome Katie Cordell, Senior Customer Success Manager at Boardable, to share her experience working with hundreds of nonprofits on improving board engagement and communication. Katie explains how the board liaison role—often overlooked or undefined—can be a game-changer for meeting prep, communication flow, and long-term board performance.

Katie discusses how board liaisons bridge staff and board expectations, manage complex workflows, and elevate the entire governance process. Plus, hear why tools like Boardable’s portal make this job easier, more efficient, and impactful.

“If you want a more effective board, start by supporting the person who supports the board,” says Katie.

00:00:00 Welcome to Katie Cordell
00:02:22 What does a Success Manager do at Boardable?
00:04:14 What is Boardable? Centralized tools for board management
00:07:03 Key responsibilities of a board liaison
00:08:38 Is the liaison a paid or volunteer role?
00:10:47 Using portals for committee work and future board vetting
00:12:33 Who manages the board liaison? Staff or board?
00:15:26 Power and influence of the liaison role
00:18:17 Rise of remote liaisons and hybrid board management
00:20:50 When boards want a portal—but won’t use it
00:22:56 How long does it take to onboard a board member with Boardable?
00:27:04 The future of board liaison roles in nonprofit leadership #TheNonprofitShow