Making effective board minutes is essential for nonprofit boards who are trying to do an excellent job. It allows all stakeholders to observe how the board doing in achieving its goals. It also provides a way for members to be held accountable and helps the organization be accountable to funders.

The structure of meeting minutes is an art form and will differ from organization to organization. However, certain key points must be included. These include:

A summary of the major issues discussed and the decisions made. The board secretary should document the results (i.e. the motion was passed or not) and the reasons behind each vote. This will enable the board to create a record in the case of a legal proceeding.

The minutes should clearly state if the board decides that the committee will be established to look into a particular issue or transaction. They should also record the percentage of people present who make up a quorum. The minutes should state whether the committee will have full power or can make a recommendation which will require board approval.

The person who records the minutes must be impartial. This is especially crucial in the context of legal proceedings, since the minutes are often sought out and used to evaluate the actions of an organization. Having an independent third party examine the minutes is important to ensure that they are factual, fair and complete.

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