5 Board Meeting Agenda Templates
This is part of our series on meeting agenda templates. You can edit these board meeting agendas in Google Docs or Word or print them out.
Meeting Agenda Templates > Leadership Meeting Agendas > Board Meeting Agenda Templates
Here are five board meeting agenda templates for your board of directors conference. Use the links below to jump to a template that fits your needs:
- Standard board meeting agenda
- Strategic planning board meeting
- Emergency board meeting
- Nonprofit board meeting
- Open-ended (blank) board meeting
Standard Agenda For Board Meetings
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Purpose: To review routine operational matters, approve previous actions, and make key decisions on ongoing organizational initiatives.
Template:
- Attendees: Board members, CEO, CFO
- Frequency: Monthly, quarterly, annually
- Duration: 140 minutes
Agenda:
- Call to Order (5 minutes)
- Formal opening and recording of attendance
- Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes (10 minutes)
- Review and approve minutes from the last meeting
- Executive Report (15 minutes)
- Summary of key activities, achievements, and issues since the last meeting by the CEO or Chair
- Financial Report (20 minutes)
- Presentation of current financial statements and discussion of financial standing
- Committee Reports (15 minutes each)
- Updates and findings from key committees (e.g., Audit, HR)
- Old Business (20 minutes)
- Follow-up on unresolved items from previous meetings
- New Business (30 minutes)
- Discussion and decision on new initiatives and other business items
- Announcements (5 minutes)
- Sharing of relevant updates not covered in the meeting
- Adjournment (5 minutes)
- Formal closure of the meeting
Nasdaq provides a good, simple board meeting agenda you can start with here.
Access the free agenda in Docs | Download all 50 for $47
Strategic Planning Board Meeting Agenda
Access the free agenda in Docs | Download all 50 for $47
Purpose: To evaluate the organization’s long-term goals and strategic direction, and to align resources and efforts with the envisioned future.
Template:
- Attendees: Board members, CEO, key executive leadership
- Frequency: Annually
- Duration: 220 minutes
Agenda:
- Opening Remarks and Objectives (10 minutes)
- Outline the goals for the strategic planning session
- Review of Mission, Vision, and Values (15 minutes)
- Reaffirm the organization’s foundational elements
- Performance Review (20 minutes)
- Analysis of the previous period’s results against strategic goals
- Environmental Scan (30 minutes)
- Presentation on market trends, competitive landscape, and regulatory changes
- Strategic Goals Discussion (1 hour)
- Brainstorming and discussions on strategic priorities and objectives for the upcoming period
- Break (15 minutes)
- Resource Allocation (30 minutes)
- Discussion on budgeting and resource allocation for new initiatives
- Action Plan Development (30 minutes)
- Setting clear actions, owners, and timelines for strategic initiatives
- Closing Remarks (10 minutes)
- Summary of the strategic plan and next steps
Emergency Board of Directors Meeting Agenda
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Purpose: To address and make quick decisions on urgent, important, unexpected situations.
Template:
- Attendees: Board members, CEO, relevant people to the emergency
- Frequency: Ad hoc
- Duration: 95 minutes
Agenda:
- Call to Order (5 minutes)
- Quick opening and attendance
- Statement of Emergency (10 minutes)
- Explanation of the emergency situation or critical issue
- Discussion of Immediate Actions (40 minutes)
- Brainstorm and discuss necessary actions to address the crisis
- Approval of Emergency Measures (20 minutes)
- Formal decision-making on proposed actions
- Communication Plan (15 minutes)
- Outline of how to communicate decisions to stakeholders
- Adjournment (5 minutes)
- Quick closure with a summary of agreed actions
See Also: Emergency Board Meeting Agenda Template
Nonprofit Board Meeting Agenda
Access the free agenda in Docs | Download all 50 for $47
Purpose: To oversee the organization’s mission effectiveness, ensure fiscal responsibility, and strategize on fundraising and program development.
Template:
- Attendees: Board members, Executive Director, and occasionally special guests (donors, partners)
- Frequency: Bi-monthly, quarterly
- Duration: 195 minutes
Agenda:
- Call to Order (5 minutes)
- Formal opening and recording of attendance
- Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes (10 minutes)
- Review and approve minutes from the last meeting to ensure all decisions and actions are documented
- Mission Moment (10 minutes)
- Share a story or testimony that highlights the impact of the nonprofit’s work, reinforcing the mission
- Executive Director’s Report (20 minutes)
- Update on organizational activities, staffing, and any significant changes since the last meeting
- Financial Report (20 minutes)
- Presentation of current financial status including budget updates, cash flow, and financial forecasts
- Fundraising Report and Planning (30 minutes)
- Review of past fundraising events and campaigns
- Discussion of upcoming fundraising activities and strategies
- Committee Reports (30 minutes)
- Updates from key committees:
- Governance Committee – Recommendations on policy changes or board development
- Audit Committee – Compliance updates and any issues with financial controls
- Program Committee – Updates on program delivery and any changes in program scope
- Updates from key committees:
- Old Business (15 minutes)
- Follow-up on previous unresolved issues or ongoing projects
- New Business (20 minutes)
- Introduction and discussion of new initiatives, partnerships, or projects
- Board Development (15 minutes)
- Training topic or discussion to enhance board effectiveness
- Executive Session (if needed) (20 minutes)
- Private session for the board to discuss sensitive issues
- Announcements (5 minutes)
- Informing the board of upcoming events, important dates, or critical changes in the organization
- Adjournment (5 minutes)
- Formal closure of the meeting with an outline of the next steps and meeting dates
See Also: Nonprofit Board Meeting Agenda Template
Boardable has some good nonprofit board meeting agendas that you can check out here.
Open-Ended Board Meeting Agenda
Access the free agenda in Docs | Download all 50 for $47
Purpose: To provide a flexible framework for discussing a variety of topics that require board input and action without a predefined agenda.
Template:
- Frequency: Quarterly, annually
- Duration: ~2 hours
Agenda:
- Call to Order (5 minutes)
- Formal opening, attendance check, and introduction of any new members or guests
- Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes (10 minutes)
- Review and approve minutes from the last meeting
- Executive Updates (15 minutes)
- Brief updates from the chair or executive director regarding organizational news or issues
- Financial Overview (15 minutes)
- Overview of the financial statements and any critical financial matters
- Topics for Discussion
- Topic 1 (Time Allocated: XX minutes)
- Description or objective of the discussion
- Topic 2 (Time Allocated: XX minutes)
- Description or objective of the discussion
- Topic 3 (Time Allocated: XX minutes)
- Description or objective of the discussion
- Topic 1 (Time Allocated: XX minutes)
- Action Items Review (15 minutes)
- Review of action items from the previous meeting and updates on their progress
- New Action Items (10 minutes)
- Assignment of new action items based on the discussions of the current meeting
- Closing Remarks (5 minutes)
- Summarization of decisions and key points discussed
- Confirmation of the next meeting date and time
- Adjournment (5 minutes)
- Formal closure of the meeting
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