Stakeholder Engagement Strategies: How to Build Relationships That Actually Work

When it comes to nonprofit leadership, stakeholder engagement can make or break your success. Whether you’re working with board members, elected officials, donors, or community leaders, keeping them engaged is critical, but not always easy.

Too often, organizations rely on long reports, occasional check-ins, and formal meetings to engage key stakeholders. The problem? People are busy. Board members forget commitments, elected officials move on to the next big thing, and well-meaning supporters get distracted.

The good news? With the right stakeholder engagement strategies, you can strengthen relationships, boost follow-through, and turn passive supporters into active champions.

Common Challenges in Stakeholder Engagement

Before we dive into solutions, let’s be honest about the real struggles of engaging stakeholders:

🚩 They don’t read emails – That well-crafted update? Buried under a hundred others.
🚩 They nod in agreement but don’t follow through – Everyone says they “support” the mission, but action is another story.
🚩 Meetings feel unproductive – Stakeholders show up, but engagement is minimal.
🚩 They forget about your organization – Elected officials and board members have multiple priorities. If you’re not top-of-mind, you’re at the bottom of the list.

Sound familiar? If so, it’s time to rethink your stakeholder engagement strategies.

5 Practical Stakeholder Engagement Strategies That Work

Engagement doesn’t happen automatically—you have to create opportunities for connection. Here’s how:

1. Ditch the Long Reports—Use Bite-Sized Updates

Instead of sending multi-page reports that will never be read, break information into short, digestible updates. Try:
✔️ A one-minute video update from your executive director.
✔️ A bullet-point email with three key takeaways.
✔️ A visual impact story instead of a data-heavy report.

The goal? Make engagement effortless.

2. Host Stakeholder Coffee Chats Instead of Formal Meetings

Board meetings and official reports serve a purpose, but nothing builds engagement like one-on-one, informal conversations.

• Invite a board member for coffee to discuss their role and ideas.
• Schedule a casual lunch with an elected official instead of a formal pitch.

People support people. Build the relationship first, and engagement will follow.

3. Use ‘Mission Moments’ to Create an Emotional Connection

Instead of starting meetings with data and updates, begin with a powerful story that showcases your impact.

• Share a real-life testimonial from someone your organization has helped.
• Show a before-and-after transformation to highlight progress.
• Ask a board member or volunteer to share why they support the mission.

The more personally connected someone feels to your work, the more engaged they’ll be.

4. Make Action Steps Stupidly Simple

If you want stakeholders to follow through, don’t overwhelm them with vague, multi-step plans. Instead:
✔️ Assign one clear task at a time (“Can you introduce us to one new donor this quarter?”).
✔️ Use deadlines to create accountability (“We need this by next Thursday”).

People are more likely to take action when it’s easy and specific.

5. Keep Stakeholders Engaged Year-Round

Many organizations only reach out to their stakeholders when they need something. Instead, maintain relationships consistently by:

• Sending quarterly impact updates (brief and visual).
• Tagging them in success stories on social media.
• Inviting them to celebratory events, not just crisis meetings.

The key to long-term stakeholder engagement? Stay visible even when you don’t need immediate support.

Final Thoughts: Stakeholder Engagement Is a Relationship, Not a Task

The best stakeholder engagement strategies aren’t about one-time efforts—they’re about ongoing connection.

If your board isn’t engaged, your elected officials don’t remember your work, and/or your key supporters aren’t taking action, it may not necessarily be all their fault. Engagement requires intentional effort and strategic relationship-building.

💡 What’s your go-to strategy for keeping stakeholders engaged? Drop your insights in the comments below!

About mkw+co

mkw+co is a boutique consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, executive coaching, marketing, and custom solutions for non-profits and small businesses. Need some extra help with your board or stakeholders, as we discussed above? Then let’s chat about some custom solutions for your non-profit. Schedule your complimentary consultation call today.