How to brief your board on AI (with a one-page template)
By Rafael · Updated · 2 min read
The short answer
Keep it to one page and five parts: where you stand (which AI tools are in use and how they're rated), what AI is doing for you, the risks you found, what you've already done, and what you need from the board. Plain words and real numbers beat a slide deck.
What boards actually want to know
- Are we using AI, and where?
- Is our people's and customers' or donors' information safe?
- Who is responsible?
- Is it helping, and is anything we should worry about?
- What do you need from us?
Answer those five, briefly and honestly, and most boards will be reassured, even if the honest answer is "we're just getting started."
Free one-page board briefing template
AI BRIEFING · [Organization] · [date] 1. Where we stand We found [number] AI tools in use across [teams]. [number] are approved, [number] approved with limits, [number] not allowed. 2. What AI is doing for us [One or two examples of real time saved, with rough hours per week.] 3. The risks we found [Top one to three risks, in plain words. Example: donor details were being pasted into a free personal AI account.] 4. What we've done - Adopted an AI policy on [date]; [name] owns it. - Moved [work] onto a business plan. - Trained [number] staff and volunteers. 5. What we're asking of the board [Decision or support needed, e.g. approve the policy, budget for business accounts, a yearly review.] Next review: [date]
Tips for the conversation
- Lead with the facts from your AI register and your answers to the AI governance checklist, not with hype or fear.
- Name the riskiest use you found and what you did about it. It builds trust.
- Show one real example of time saved, so the board sees the benefit as well as the risk.
- Ask for a specific decision, such as approving the policy or a budget for business accounts.
- Agree on how often they'll hear about AI, usually twice a year.
The free AI governance kit produces a one-page leadership summary with your readiness score, the tool ratings and next steps, a good starting point for this briefing.
Common questions
- Should the board approve our AI policy?
- For most nonprofits and many businesses, yes, or at least see it. It shows the organization takes the information it holds seriously, and gives the policy weight with staff.
- What if we don't have answers yet?
- Say so, and present a short plan: survey the team, build the register, adopt a policy and train staff within a set number of weeks. Boards respond well to a clear plan.
- Does a church council or elder board need this too?
- Yes. Churches hold sensitive information, like pastoral care notes and giving records. See our [church AI policy template](/learn/church-ai-policy-template).