Insights
Best Practices of Highly Effective Nonprofit Organizations
G OV E R N A N C E
Before and After the Board Meeting: Time Well Spent
Winter 2022 Vol. 1 // Issue 4
CONTENTS
6 / HBK Nonprofit Solutions Contacts
By Kathleen Clayton, CPA PRINCIPAL | CO-CHAIR, HBK NONPROFIT SOLUTIONS GROUP
Y
ou will know when you’ve sat through either a good, productive board
meeting or a bad, unproductive meeting. The last thing organizations want to do is waste the precious hours that board members donate. Good organization plus sensitivity to the people and issues involved can ensure productive meetings. Here are ten suggestions for before, during, and after board meetings:
The Before
certain items a priority. Discuss your most important agenda items early in the meeting when members are most engaged. Make sure time-sensitive, critical items requiring board action have ample agenda time. 2. Documents and information. Supply the board with the information it needs to make informed decisions, particularly if you are asking them to vote or take action at this meeting. Include relevant reports and financial statements. Encourage board members to review the agenda and meeting documents before the meeting.
1. Agenda prep. The board president or chair and Gone are the days of the three-inch board binder. executive director (ED) typically plan the agenda Most boards have begun using together. Many boards now board management software Provide your board with good use consent agendas to that saves time and provides streamline meetings and allow financial information in a format for better governance—and the focus to be on substantive that doesn’t overwhelm them. improves collaboration both issues. A consent agenda before and during the meeting. The finance committee can groups the routine, procedural, Some board training may be request additional information informational, and selfrequired for those members explanatory non-controversial if they need it. who are less tech-savvy. items typically found in an 3. Financial facts. Provide your board with good agenda. These items are then presented to the board in a single motion for an up or down vote after financial information in a format that doesn’t overwhelm them. Consider using a dashboard-type allowing anyone to request that a specific item be presentation rather than columns and rows of data. moved to the full agenda for individual attention. Other items, particularly those requiring strategic thought, decision-making, or action, are handled on the full agenda. In preparing the full agenda, don’t try to cover every issue your nonprofit is facing in every meeting. Make
Think seriously about the amount of detailed financial data you distribute to the full board. First, will they understand it? Second, will it be meaningful in terms of a decision they are making? Many boards use dashboards and leave the more
TAX
4 / Gaming as Fundraising: Know the Rules
A SSURANCE
7 / GAAP Requires Nonprofits to Report In-Kind Donations on Financial Statements
OUTSIDE THE LINES
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT
10 / Endowments: A Powerful Solution for Both Donors and Charitable Organizations 12 / Wellfit Girls: Leadership, Fitness and Empowerment for Girls
ABOUT HBK NONPROFIT SOLUTIONS HBK Nonprofit Solutions is a dedicated team of subject matter experts within HBK CPAs & Consultants, an Accounting Today Top 100 CPA firm. With more than 800 clients in the nonprofit sector, and more than 35 years providing financial compliance and consulting to nonprofits, we offer the hands-on experience and technical skills to help nonprofit organizations fulfill their missions.
