Elevate is back! Join us in Atlanta, April 22-24, 2026, for the premier event for governance, risk and compliance professionals. Discover the latest in AI-powered governance, risk and compliance, connect with industry leaders and sharpen your expertise. 

Looking to strengthen community engagement in your district?

, has practical ideas for initiating dialogue, addressing public expectations and streamlining policy updates, to build trust and ensure every voice is heard.

Local government leaders can also drive stronger community connections using our 

Access and inclusion in local government checklist

. Focused on transparent governance and trust-building, the guide offers practical steps and real-world examples for advancing inclusion and access, to engage your citizens and stakeholders more effectively.

Centralized, secure access to your most important documents

 is designed to centralize and secure your organization’s most vital records. Administrators can easily upload, organize and manage documents in both public and private folders, simplifying access while protecting sensitive content. Flexible permissions ensure that only authorized members can view or edit private materials, and the Microsoft integration enables seamless editing and collaboration for those with the right access.

Public folders are accessible through the transparency website, making key documents easily searchable for broader community engagement, while private folders restrict access to designated users only. This structure enhances your data management practices and supports institutional knowledge retention, ensuring the right information always reaches the right people.

Town of Carbondale cuts board prep time and boosts transparency with Diligent Community

The Town of Carbondale, Colorado turned to Diligent Community for a smarter, more efficient board management solution. With streamlined meeting preparation, trustees and committee members now quickly locate key documents — reducing prep time from an entire day to just minutes — while eliminating the hassle of managing email lists.

Community accessibility soared through a public transparency website that includes meeting livestreams and Spanish document support for Latinx residents. The result: enhanced transparency, improved constituent access and a smoother onboarding process for new trustees.

“Not having to manage an email list anymore is huge. If we have a new member join one of our committees, it's already done.” — Jessica Markham, Town Clerk, Carbondale, Colorado

Next Diligent Community webinar: September 25, 2025

Join us September 25for our next webinar, "Managing budget risk with smart oversight." This fireside chat will share strategies and tools needed to manage financial risk effectively with practical insights and actionable steps to ensure your organization’s financial health and stability. 

Upcoming seasonal events to celebrate with your board

September is Intergenerational Month with the goal to connect generations. Your organization could join in the celebration by bringing board members of different ages together to work on a project. You could also describe how generations are already working together within your district or board to become friends and learn from one another while supporting the community.

September is also National Insider Threat Awareness Month, a good time to educate staff and board members about the danger of insider threats and how to handle sensitive information.

15 September-15 October: For Hispanic Heritage Month, storytelling can be a powerful medium. Consider interviewing your Latino staff and volunteers, members and donors, and with their permission, tell the stories of how they contribute to the work of your mission.

We would love to hear from you if you think someone should be a Diligent Community Champion. You can nominate them 

Leading with Purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work 

Listen to Dr. Audrey Young, Chair of the Committee on Instruction for the Texas State Board of Education and Ben Niehaus, Director of Member Services for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards 

 series, we are excited to highlight a dedicated member of our Diligent Community team who is here to support you.

José “Joey” Fuentes is the Community Implementation Team Lead at Diligent. His wide-ranging career, from Systems Engineer to Customer Success and Solutions Consulting, has helped shape his hands-on, people-first approach. Find out more about Joey this month!

Our pick of the newest and most popular items on our blog this month:

How to manage multiple board and commission meetings (without losing your mind!)

How board management software can save school secretaries time

What are the legal requirements for school board meeting minutes?

10 reasons you know you’re a school board secretary

We love to hear what leaders think about issues and key topics that affect mission-driven organizations. 

Please take a moment to fill out our 

 to tell us about community engagement for the chance to win a $50 gift card!

Inclusive involvement in your district, customizable document libraries for secure storage and more

Public education is the foundation of thriving communities. 

 face rising expectations for transparency, compliance, and accountability, all while managing complex processes.

For me, building technology for mission-driven organizations isn’t just a career — it’s a calling. Every 

, policy update and community interaction is a chance to foster trust and drive positive outcomes.

That’s why Diligent is all-in on governance and AI innovation built specifically for public education. We believe 

 can remove friction and complexity, empowering boards to improve student outcomes and increase community trust.

Governing a public school district goes far beyond running meetings. It’s about fostering transparency, inclusion and making decisions that impact entire communities. Public school boards must comply with open meeting laws, communicate in ADA-compliant and accessible ways, respond to public inquiries, and secure sensitive data.

Generic business software doesn’t meet these needs. That’s why our team is passionate about building solutions specifically for educators and the public sector. Many of our team members come from these industries — former board clerks and secretaries who bring invaluable insight to our products. Our investment in AI and next-gen governance is about supporting your mission.

 supports over 14,000 mission-driven organizations globally, including thousands of school districts and colleges. Every hour our software saves an administrator, every simplified policy update, is time that can be redirected to improving educational outcomes.

Efficient, transparent governance helps school boards:

Foster public trust with accessible meetings and records

Meet evolving security and compliance standards

Respond quickly to changing needs and expectations.

BoardDocs pioneered paperless board management in the early 2000s. Building on that legacy, we launched 

 — a modern, cloud-based platform focused on accessibility, digital engagement and end-to-end meeting efficiency.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and the Board of Education at 

"One of the board’s main goals is to be as transparent and open as possible with our public constituents. Having a platform that is much more user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing has been a step forward. It’s been really easy for me to post the agenda and share it with our community.”

Innovation means continual improvement. Features like live AI-generated minutes, the policy timeline, and mobile-first design aren’t just “nice-to-haves”. They’re essential tools that save time, reduce errors and make vital governance information accessible to everyone.

Making meetings effortless and transparent

School boards are busier and more visible than ever. Our goal with Diligent Community is to streamline every step, from agenda creation to minute-taking to publishing, so boards can focus on action, not admin.



 moved early to Diligent Community for its modern, mobile-friendly design. Jaime Durkowski, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Board reflects on their transition: “Templates and the ability to prepopulate information in the minutes before the meeting saves time and enhances the smooth running of meetings. It takes me less time to complete my minutes and I feel it makes my job easier.”

We’re also investing in features that radically cut down post-meeting work. As Alice Black puts it, “Diligent Community has been fantastic for us. During one of our more complex board meetings, the ability to use live minutes was a game-changer. It significantly reduced the amount of work I had to do after the meeting, making the process basically nonexistent. It has probably cut down a quarter of my work.” For administrators, that’s precious time returned to supporting the districts’ strategic goals and priorities.

Districts juggle hundreds of evolving policies under scrutiny for accessibility and compliance. Diligent Community’s Policy Publisher helps teams draft, compare, approve and publish policies — all with built-in accessibility checks and seamless integration into meetings so that board members have a simpler way to review proposed changes and make more informed decisions.

“The redlining capability and centralized document management make policy updates and approvals much more efficient,” shares Shiona Nash, Executive Assistant at 

Our team is proud that we’re making these workflows faster and simpler — it feels great knowing we’re helping districts stay audit-ready, transparent, and legally compliant.

Building products that reflect your needs

It’s not just about features — it’s about partnership. Myra Lomahan from 

 told us, "We’ve worked very closely with the Diligent Community support team. They are fantastic and very responsive to our feedback, improving the platform to better suit our needs." That level of customer support is foundational; as Myra adds, “The visually modern design and user-friendly interface made the transition to Diligent Community a no-brainer.”

Our roadmap is shaped by customer feedback. Here’s what’s coming:

Accurate minutes are crucial. Our AI-driven closed captioning and live transcripts help boards:

Ensure accessibility for all stakeholders

Click-to-create summary and signatory sheets

Policy work is critical but often cumbersome. If we can make one part of your policy lifecycle dramatically easier, that’s the kind of impact I get excited about. We’re delivering:

Real-time collaborative editing with accessibility checks

Integration with policy service providers

Easy management of citations and attachments

We’re going beyond WCAG 2.2 AA standards to ensure everyone — students, parents, teachers, board members — can access information from any device. We see firsthand how features like live AI-generated captions and livestreamed meetings make the work of the board more accessible to the entire community.

Soon, our Smart Search will let users ask natural language questions and get summarized answers from public records. Imagine being able to quickly identify how other districts in the state or nationally are addressing legislative changes through policy.

Better governance strengthens public education. Every improvement we make helps educators focus on student success. AI isn’t replacing the human touch, it’s amplifying voices and saving time.

As one longtime user put it, “Diligent Community looks completely different. But don’t let that stop you from making the switch, because the completely different look is a good thing. The features in Community are sharp and timely. You’ll look back at a BoardDocs agenda after a few months and be wowed at the upgrade."

Wowing our customers and helping them be better at governance fuels our team’s passion every day. We believe public servants in education deserve the best technology, and we’re proud to build tools that support their mission now and into the future.

Beyond BoardDocs: Why and how Diligent is investing in the future of governance for education

This article originally appeared in our August 14 edition of the Diligent Minute Newsletter. For more insights like these, delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe

Transaction activity (acquisitions, funding rounds, and IPOs) may be lower on many corporate priority lists right now, as market slowdowns, policy uncertainty, and trade whiplash continue. M&A announcements recently 

That’s why Diligent is currently collecting insights from boards and executives about what’s working (and what’s not) when it comes to transaction readiness. If your organization has recently completed or is planning for a transaction, we encourage you to participate in our ongoing 

in collaboration with Wilson Sonsini, NetSuite, the CFO Leadership Council, and the CFO Alliance.

Despite recent turbulence, however, research from our 

 conducted with Corporate Board Member shows 76% of public company directors still see growth as the year’s top priority, and nearly 40% specifically cite M&A as a key agenda item for their boards, with smaller companies most likely to lean in as deals return.

Deals aren’t off the table; they may just be harder to attract. And that makes them even more valuable.That means getting your governance house in order should be a top priority, so you won't miss out when opportunity knocks.

 published by Diligent, dives into transaction preparedness and emphasized a key point worth repeating:Investors, regulators and the leadership teams putting a deal together today demand governance that’s fast, transparent and ready for anything.

Here are a few things to keep in mind for achieving this goal:

“We’ll tackle it when it happens” is no longer a viable strategy for transaction preparation.

When reporting is rushed, or due diligence not given its due, errors happen. Outdated information finds its way into documents, and important details fall through the cracks, impeding decisions, impacting valuations and even stalling deals entirely.

This last-minute scramble goes away when companies integrate transaction-ready governance into everyday operations. Compliance processes and audit reporting are robust. Board composition is strong. And the business itself is positioned to strike — successfully — when opportunity arises.

Getting your house in order requires the right tools

Transaction readiness also demands the right technology and processes. For example, think about all of the activities a merger or acquisition entails. Effective execution requires clean entity records, organized due diligence documentation and accurate, transparent audit trails that track progress as it happens.

Kristy Grant-Hart, Head of Advisory Services at Diligent, spoke from recent experience navigating Spark Compliance’s acquisition: “The pace and complexity of today’s deals is incredible. There is so much data and information to obtain in such a short time. Having connected, secure systems, and being ready for due diligence was absolutely critical in getting through the process smoothly. Unified collaboration across systems, data, and people is the key to success.”

Now is the time to bring such capabilities on board. Integrated reporting, AI-driven workflows, secure document management — they are all essential to minimizing risk and building investor trust.

Transaction readiness signals credibility and gives your company the edge when it counts.

PE and VC firms are understandably selective right now. They want to see clean financial reporting and clear governance structures, proactive risk management and agile, scalable systems. They want to invest in nimble, resilient companies who demonstrate progress against their objectives and deliver long-term value.

Disciplined transaction readiness gives them confidence.

What does this mean for your ongoing operations? For starters, benchmarking, due diligence reviews and scenario planning are more than rote compliance exercises. They’re strategies that sharpen your competitive edge.

Moreover, disciplined governance not only attracts more opportunities but also increases the likelihood of faster, smoother transactions and successful integration post-close.

As we have highlighted, while the IPO market remains cautious, it is far from closed. Meanwhile, the M&A pipeline is poised to accelerate as private equity firms seek exits and strategic buyers pursue growth.

The companies that embed transaction readiness into their culture today will be best positioned to act decisively and gain a competitive edge when the market shifts.

Want regular access to original research in the field of GRC? Bookmark our 

 for the latest surveys, podcasts and reports.

Preparing your team, tech and tactics for deals on the horizon 

Leadership in the boardroom is a multifaceted journey that requires a blend of diverse experiences, proactive engagement, and strategic preparation. At the Next Gen Board Leaders Summit, seasoned board chairs including Alicia Syrett, Founder of Madam Chair, provide valuable insights on what it takes to lead a board effectively and create a strong boardroom culture.

The ​​p​​ath to ​​b​​oard ​​l​​eadership

​​Board​ chairs typically reach their positions through a combination of executive experience, committee work, and active involvement in board matters.​There​’s no set formula, but d​​iverse backgrounds and a ​​bias for action​​​ a​re essential. Continuous learning, such as seeking out mentors and familiarizing oneself with board and committee responsibilities, can help build the necessary skills and credibility. ​That said, ​​i​t's also crucial ​for aspiring chairs ​to be realistic about the time commitment required for the role.

Resources and ​​p​​ractices for ​​e​​ffective board chairs

To excel in the chair role, familiarity with key resources like 'Robert’s Rules of Order' and practical articles like 'How to be a Good Chair' can provide a solid foundation. ​Bu​t it’s the consistent habits that matter most. ​​Strategic use of the agenda, starting meetings with ​​planning​ and forward-looking topics​, and conducting pre-meeting calls with directors can ​clarify priorities and ​foster alignment. Engaging directly with shareholders and proxy advisors is vital for anticipating issues and building trust. Regular communication with the CEO and fellow directors, as well as ​​creating​​ an environment where directors feel comfortable raising ​​tough questions and dissenting views​​ is also crucial.

: ​​A good​​ board chair ​​acts as​​ the 'conductor of the orchestra,' responsible for ensuring the board operates cohesively.

: Effective chairs take their responsibilities seriously, benchmark against other boards, and ​​seek​​ regular ​​feedback from​​ the CEO and fellow directors.

​​​Making the most of​​ meeting time

: By prioritizing strategic planning​, sharp agendas, and candid discussion,​ the chair can ​drive more meaningful outcomes ​​​​​​​in​​ limited meeting time.

​​M​aintaining a ​​s​​trong ​​b​​oardroom ​​c​​ulture

​​​Culture starts with the chair – and a​​ robust boardroom culture is essential for the board's effectiveness. Regular assessments, ideally conducted by third parties to gather unfiltered feedback, are critical. The chair should act on this feedback and​​ actively reinforce high expectations for board conduct and performance​​. By identifying and ​​actively drawing out​​​​​​ the strengths of each board member, the chair can ensure that the board remains a dynamic and effective decision-making body.

In summary, effective board leadership ​requires more than experience ​– it calls for ​​​​preparation, ​​intentionality, ​​and a commitment to fostering a strong, cohesive boardroom culture. By following the insights shared by experienced chairs, aspiring leaders can better navigate the complexities of board leadership and contribute to the success of their organizations.

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Inclusive involvement in your district, customizable document libraries for secure storage and more

Beyond BoardDocs: Why and how Diligent is investing in the future of governance for education

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