Just as you don’t want to slow down on the highway or get caught in a roadblock, you want your meeting to flow smoothly and not get stuck or unable to move along.Ī quick internet search will yield a host of samples for a basic agenda format. Think of the agenda as a roadmap for the meeting. Creating and Distributing the Nonprofit Board Meeting Agenda If you notice board directors are getting weary or distracted, it helps to take a short break about halfway through the meeting. If they’ve worked all day and attend a meeting at night, they’re apt to be tired. Be especially conscious of board members who work full-time. Most nonprofits find that about two hours is the most they can be productive. If you always start on time regardless of who is there, you’re training people that meetings always start on time, and if they’re not there, they may miss something important. Essentially, you’re training people to arrive late and the meetings will keep getting pushed back later and later. If you make a practice of waiting for tardy board members, they’ll make a practice of arriving late on a regular basis. If someone makes it a habit to arrive late, don’t make a habit of starting late to accommodate them. The first rule of meetings is to stop and start on time. One of the mistakes that nonprofit boards make is not managing meeting time well. This will give board members enough time to review the information and arrive at the meeting prepared to discuss it and to ask questions. The more information board directors can get ahead of time, the less time they’ll spend reviewing it during the meeting, which leaves them more time for discussion.īoard packets should be well-organized and easy to read. As the meeting draws closer, send out an announcement to all board members with a draft of the agenda.Īttach the financial report, any committee reports and any other information that board directors need to read ahead of time. Plan the basic agenda about a month before the meeting. How to Run an Effective Nonprofit Board MeetingĬonducting a nonprofit board meeting begins weeks before the meeting ever starts. The result is that they won’t do their best at their jobs or promote a positive image of the nonprofit, which will hinder the overall progress of the organization. It’s no surprise that they’d also end up confused and frustrated. Poorly run board meetings also have a negative impact on the executive director and staff. Nonprofit board members who aren’t invested in their work experience low satisfaction, which can lead to volunteering less, donating less and eventually dropping out. When a nonprofit board doesn’t function well, it creates frustration and confusion among the board members. If you’re going to the time and trouble of learning how to conduct a board meeting for a nonprofit, it’s important for everyone to give it their best. These are pretty clear signs of a boring board meeting that needs some help in running more efficiently. Board members are checking their email messages, texting their friends or doodling on the paper agenda in front of them. Perhaps you’ve been to a board meeting where the focus of the meeting is everywhere except on the agenda. Boring Board Meetings Are Inefficient and Unproductive A nonprofit board meeting that has a well-planned agenda and a polished facilitator improves the overall performance of a nonprofit and helps it move closer to its goals. Productive meetings support and encourage board members and staff. When all board directors are in their seats before the meeting starts and each of them has fulfilled their commitment to preparing well for the meeting, it sets the tone for how to conduct a board meeting for a nonprofit that’s efficient and productive. As the first board members arrive at the board meeting, the tone for the meeting is already being set.
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