What Is a Written Consent Agenda?

The written consent agenda is a governing tool that helps nonprofit boards streamline meeting procedures by combining non-controversial and routine items into a set of items which can be voted on and then approved for recording in the minutes of board meetings. The use of this approach can reduce the duration of meetings and frees time for discussion of high-priority issues.

These are the routine items that include budgets with financial reports, committee updates, approvals of the latest draft of the board meeting minutes and other non-controversial topics. These items are included on the agenda prior to a meeting. They are then reviewed by the board and voted upon as a group at the beginning of the meeting.

Before voting, the chairperson of the board can inquire if a board member wishes to move a specific item from the consent agenda into the regular discussion portion of the meeting. This allows for every board member to answer any questions or concerns before the groupings are considered. This also ensures that no unintended issues were missed in the process of gathering information that needs to be approved by the board.

A well-planned consent agenda can be a powerful tool for nonprofit boards to utilize in maximizing efficiency of meetings and increasing board director involvement and enhancing efficiency. It is important to note, however, that the consent agenda should not be https://finddataroom.com/ideal-strategies-for-leaving-the-business-types-of-business-exit-and-importance-to-sell-merge-or-close-your-business/ used for issues that require a lengthy discussion, careful review, or when a discussion could alter the outcome or impact of the issue. It is only utilized for issues that can be negotiated without discussion, and the outcomes of all votes must be recorded in the minutes of the board meeting.