Many board members of non-profit organizations are now opting for hybrid meeting options due to continuing pandemic concerns about in-person meetings. It's crucial for those organizations that choose to adopt a hybrid approach in the long term to prioritize engagement and provide top-quality virtual experiences for their attendees. Here are some key tips on how to do that:

Start off the meeting with an icebreaker or check-in activity. This allows attendees to feel more connected to their screens.

Make use of a video conferencing software that includes more than audio and meeting tools. Find software that has accessibility features like text-to-speech and dyslexia-friendly fonts to ensure that everyone attending of your gathering can take part without barriers.

Consider using a shared digital whiteboard application such as Mural or Miro to enable remote and in-person participants to collaborate in real-time during the meeting. This will help all attendees be able to communicate with each other and collaborate and also create documents that make synchronous follow-up much simpler.

Set time limits for comments that are made by in-person attendees and remote participants as you work through a certain topic. This will help to avoid getting off-topic or wasting too much time focusing on one issue. This will ensure that meetings remain on track and productive. For the most efficient results, it's essential that the chair of the board be involved during the meeting and encourage participation from all attendees. The board chair should also actively solicit feedback and communicate with the group, particularly people who are not comfortable to ensure that everyone is heard.