I Was Tired of 'Board-Speak,' So I Built a Free Translator
It's free, it's bilingual (EN/ES), and it's for any nonprofit leader, staffer, or new board member who is tired of guessing.
Last July, I published a post titled “The Skill No One Teaches You: Managing Your Board of Directors.”
The central argument was straightforward: Managing your nonprofit board is a hard-won skill. It’s the daily work of maintaining a healthy boundary between governance and management. Do it well, and your board transitions from the source of endless micromanagement into one of the most powerful strategic assets available to your organization.
Since then, I’ve spoken with several founders and staff members about their experiences with their boards. They all tell me the same things. They describe the act of engaging with their boards as incredibly frustrating and perplexing. They tell me that they often walk away from an exchange feeling helpless.
It all traces back to the point of the last piece. For someone who has never before interacted with a board, it can legitimately feel like you have been placed into a completely alien environment.
Boards have their own language. They have their own processes. They even have their own traditions. And you’ve been set loose on that journey without a simple manual in hand.
I know what some of you are thinking. “But Yoni, what about Robert’s Rules of Order?”
OK, sure. That’s a manual for parliamentary procedure. It’s great for maintaining order in meetings and ensuring that everything proceeds in a fair and civil way. But that’s not what I’m talking about. That’s not the “resource gap” that I’ve been hearing about over and over again.
Instead, what I’ve been hearing over and over again is that people are looking for something simpler. Something more rudimentary.
To see more tools from Backstory and Strategy, click HERE.
With that in mind, I set about building something. As part of my continued exploration of Vibe Coding, I built a free web app that I call “The Board Translator.” (Full Disclosure: This was an entirely self-funded project, and the app was built using Base44.)
Here’s the official description:
“Board Translator helps nonprofit staff and board members speak the same language. It’s a plain-English glossary and guide that demystifies board governance — from executive sessions to budget approvals. Search key terms, explore short explainers, and learn how boards and staff actually work together.”
So, how does it work?
I built this with a focus on practicality and ease of use. It is designed around a few central methods of providing you the clarity you need:
The Search Bar: The big search bar at the top of the homepage is there for that moment when someone around the table uses a term that you’ve never heard before. ‘Fiduciary duty?’ ‘Consent agenda?’ Just type it in and get a plain-English (or Spanish) translation back in seconds.
Bilingual Support (English/Spanish): Clarity shouldn’t be limited by language. You can instantly toggle the entire app and all its definitions between English and Spanish, making this a resource for even more leaders, staff, and board members.
“Terms”: This is the dictionary of the app. Here, you can browse all the terms, or you can jump right to key entries like Bylaws and Conflict of Interest, or (for those new to the board game) you can “Start with the Basics” with a section I’ve built just for the uninitiated.
“Explainers”: The terms are just the start. The real value of understanding what goes on around the table is in the context and nuance that a simple glossary can never convey. For that, you need the “Explainers.” These are short, straightforward articles that dive into what really goes on in those meetings
The Feedback Feature: On this side of the project, I’m going to need your help. I’ve included a feedback feature in the app, and it’s where you come in. If you have an idea, if you’ve got a term that you’ve heard and want to suggest we include, or if you still feel confused about something, let me know. It’s how the tool will improve.
From The Clueless to The Prepared
I’ll cut to the chase: My hope for The Board Translator is to bridge the gap between the clueless and the prepared.
The goal is simple. It’s to provide you a practical resource that transitions you from being “helpless” to being prepared and confident. Engaging your board shouldn’t be a confusing or intimidating process. Understanding their language is the first, most crucial step in truly managing that relationship.
It’s how you maintain the boundary. It’s how you signal your competence. It’s how you ultimately turn your board into the strategic asset it should be.
So here it is. It’s completely free. It’s available for you to use, right now.
Now, Here’s Where I Need Your Help
With your help, I want to make this as useful as possible. This project is far from complete, and that’s the point. I built this for you, and I mean it when I say that I want to build it with you.
So, when you’ve had a chance to give it a whirl, I’ve got two questions:
What am I missing? What term left you stumped at your last meeting?
What’s next? What scenarios or subjects should I add to the “Explainers” section?
Let me know in the comments. Let’s build this thing together.
P.S. - If you found this post helpful, would you please consider restacking it and sharing it with your audience?
This spreads the word and keeps me writing the types of content that you have enjoyed.