Board documents are the pillars of any organization, whether it’s a charity or community, or an organisation. They establish the structure and governance for the organisation. These documents are essential for the accountability of the organization and provide guidance. They are not only necessary to ensure that the board meets its fiduciary duties and offer transparency and accountability to stakeholders.
Having the appropriate documents on hand before a board meeting can be essential in facilitating discussions that are constructive and ensuring all members are well prepared for the meeting. This is only possible when the information is presented in a concise, clear and complete way.
Some of the most important documents for boards include annual reports, agendas and financial reports as well as board resolutions that outline. Depending on the organisation, they may be made public or kept in a private manner, but all provide information to stakeholders about an organisation’s development and direction.
Board policies are an additional important document that is often not considered. They establish the guidelines What is a Board Report and standards of the way boards operate. This could include a self-evaluation, board-staff relationships, volunteer policy, or financial management practices.
Organizations are increasingly utilizing electronic board books, such as the BoardWorks portal. This can help cut costs by removing the need to print, bind and mail paper files. Moreover the platforms enable better engagement amongst directors during meetings since they can locate and access documents quickly from the platform.
