Written consent agendas are a governing tool that allows nonprofit boards to streamline their meeting procedures. They incorporate routine and non-controversial topics into a grouping, which can then be voted upon and incorporated into the board minutes. This approach https://finddataroom.com/ideal-strategies-for-leaving-the-business-types-of-business-exit-and-importance-to-sell-merge-or-close-your-business/ allows for shorter meetings and more time to talk about high-priority topics.
Typically, these routine issues include financial reports (with accompanying budgets) and committee updates, approval of the most recent draft of the board’s meeting agenda as well as other non-controversial matters. These items are listed on the agenda prior to the meeting, are then scrutinized by board members, and taken up for vote in a block at the start of the meeting.
Before the vote the chair of the board may ask whether any member of the board wants to move an item from the agenda of consent to the regular discussion portion of the meeting. This lets each board member clarify or ask questions prior to the grouping vote is taken and ensures that no unintentional item was missed during the process of gathering details for the board to consider.
A well-planned consent agenda can be a valuable tool for nonprofit boards to use for meeting efficiency and fostering board director engagement and increasing productivity. However, it is important to keep in mind that the consent agenda should not be used to discuss anything that requires a lengthy discussion or careful consideration or in the event that a discussion might change the outcome of the issue or its impact. It is only utilized for issues that can be negotiated without debate, and the outcome of all votes must be recorded in the minutes of the board meeting.