Waypoint #1: What's New in Karma Compass, Board Management Software for Nonprofits

TL;DR

• Ask the board packet: Board members can ask questions about their board packet from the link in the packet email, without signing in. Each answer cites the document, page and passage. Available on Compass Pro and Enterprise.
• Filings and good standing check: Compass Pro runs a monthly check of a nonprofit's IRS record and state charity registrations, and emails the executive director and board chair when something needs attention.
• Shared action items and drafted follow-ups: An action item can have several owners, and Mission Control drafts a follow-up email when an item is overdue.
• Board agendas and minutes from existing files: Compass reads agendas pasted from a PDF, including times and presenters, and prepares minutes uploaded as PDF or Word.
• Meeting links and clearer meeting status: A meeting link appears on the RSVP email, the calendar file and the packet cover, and each meeting shows what it is waiting on.

Karma Compass is board management software for nonprofits. It prepares board agendas, board minutes and follow-ups, and keeps track of what the board agreed to do. Waypoint is our weekly roundup of everything new in Karma Compass, so you can see where we're headed.

Can board members ask questions about the board packet?

Yes. The board packet email now includes a link labeled "Ask questions about the packet." The link opens without signing in, so a director can read the packet, download the PDF and ask a question on one page.

Answers come only from that packet's agenda and documents. Each answer cites the document, the page and the passage it came from, and the page number refers to the page of the packet the director is holding. Questions are not stored.

This feature is for board members who read the packet from email. Asking questions is included in Compass Pro and Enterprise. On the Free plan, directors can still read and download the packet from the same link.

The packet is also easier to navigate. The emailed packet page lists "Agenda" and "Meeting documents" before anything is opened, and the packet email lists the agenda items, the documents and the meeting link.

How does Karma Compass check a nonprofit's filings and good standing?

Compass Pro boards now get a monthly playbook called Filings and good standing, installed automatically. It is for executive directors and board chairs who are responsible for keeping the organization's tax-exempt status and state registrations current.

The check works like this:

• It reads the organization's IRS record by EIN: its exemption, fiscal year end, the form it files and the latest return on file.
• It reads the charity registries in California, Colorado, Virginia and Maryland.
• For 21 other states, it reminds the organization 60 days before the filing date set by the state's rule. These reminders are labeled so it is clear the registry itself was not read.
• Each concern links to where it is acted on, such as the relevant IRS page or the state registry search, and offers one decision: "Already filed," "Already renewed" or "Already handled."
• The board chair and executive director receive one email per new issue.

A missed filing deadline now stays raised until the IRS shows the return, instead of closing on its own. Board admins can also open any playbook's details in one press to see what it checks, when it runs and where its results go.

Can an action item have more than one owner?

Yes. A single action item can now be shared by several people. Every owner is shown wherever the item appears, including Mission Control, the meeting recap and the board packet's action review, and every owner receives the reminders.

Does Karma Compass help follow up on overdue action items?

Yes. Mission Control now recommends the next step instead of only listing what is overdue. When an action item is overdue or blocked and its owner has not been contacted recently, Mission Control shows an "Email" action. It opens a drafted message that the executive director or chair can edit and send. Replies go to the person who sent it.

Links in follow-up and decision emails now name their organization, so people who sit on more than one board land on the right one. Decision links also keep their destination through sign-in.

Can I paste an existing board agenda or upload board minutes as a PDF?

Yes. When you paste an agenda into "Write as text," Compass now reads it the way it was written. It recognizes time ranges such as "6:00 to 6:05 PM," durations such as "10 min," item types such as "(Action)" or "(Discussion)," and presenters named after the item.

Board minutes uploaded as a PDF or Word file now finish preparing and turn into follow-ups, and a retry can complete. A meeting that has been held can take its PDF minutes directly from the meeting page.

After a meeting, a new setting called "Email adopted minutes to the board" sends adopted minutes to every board member. It is off by default. Minutes can also be shared by hand. Executive-session minutes are never emailed.

What else changed in board meetings?

• Meeting link: An optional meeting link appears as "Join the meeting" in the RSVP email, the calendar file, the RSVP page and the packet cover.
• Meeting status: The meetings list shows what each meeting is waiting on, such as "Agenda not sent · 3 of 5 replied" or "Minutes to review."
• Time zones: Meeting times show on the meeting's own clock and name the time zone when it differs from the reader's.
• Calmer screens: Explanatory text was cut across the product, "Chat with support" moved to a bubble at the bottom right, and Compass Pro now appears as one plan with a monthly or yearly price, next to Enterprise.

Frequently asked questions

What is Karma Compass? Karma Compass is an AI board assistant and board management software for nonprofits. It drafts board agendas and minutes, tracks action items and follows up on them.

Who is Karma Compass for? It is for nonprofit executive directors, board chairs and board members, and for the consultants who support nonprofit boards.

Do board members need an account to read the packet? No. The board packet link in the email opens without signing in. Board members can read and download the packet on any plan.

Which features need Compass Pro? Asking questions about the board packet needs Compass Pro or Enterprise. The Filings and good standing check is installed for Pro boards. Drafted follow-up emails are part of meeting preparation on Pro and Enterprise.

Which states' charity registries does Compass read? It reads the registries in California, Colorado, Virginia and Maryland, and gives rule-based reminders for 21 other states.

Is there a free plan? Yes. Karma Compass has a free plan for every nonprofit.

Try Karma Compass free

If you are an executive director, a board chair or a consultant who supports nonprofit boards, you can start free at compass.karmahq.org.