It’s important that a lot of thought and consideration go into the development of your organization’s board package. A board package is an organization’s first opportunity to orient their new board members to their organization. Therefore, your board will be as well informed about your organization as you make them.

Board packages are not just information; they are an opportunity to brand your organization with your new board members. It gives them insight into the type of organization you have how it operates and what it focuses on.

A good board package should include the following:

• Introduction – An introduction to your organization that includes its mission, vision and values and information on what approach it takes in achieving its goals.
• Backgrounder – Educating your board about how your organization began and any changes to its structure and goals during its life span. This should also include information about what and who stimulated the creation of the organization, as well as the process followed to create the organization.
• Board meeting minutes – It should include minutes from the past year’s board meetings, financial reports and any attachments that go with those minutes.
• Organizational Chart – It’s hard for an individual to make good policy decisions for an organization if they don’t have a good handle on what the structure of the organization. That is why supplying an up-to-date organizational chart is important.
• List of funders – Board members should be provided with a list of who the funders of the organizations are, what their investments are in the organization and whether the funding is annual, multi-year or one time.
• Organizational Policy Manual – Board members should be given a copy of the organizational policy manual in either hard copy or electronically. A board member should be able to become familiar with existing policies to be able to make good decisions about adjustment to policies or the creation of new policies.