A well-written board report can help your nonprofit make smarter decisions. It will also ensure that your board members are active and committed to the organization, and helps to secure their support for the upcoming projects and financial requirements.
It’s essential to know the expectations and level of understanding of your audience before you create a report for your board that is useful. This will help you avoid writing over their heads or giving them information they already know. It will also provide you with an idea of the areas of your report may raise questions. Based on this knowledge you can predict what information and analysis your board members will want to see https://boardroomlife.com/introduction-to-virtual-board-meetings/ in your report.
Use visual graphics to highlight important details that might be difficult for your board members to comprehend. This will enable your board to quickly and easily unearth insights from your report without needing to read a lot of text. In addition to visuals, you can use bullet points or lists with numbers to break up long paragraphs of text.
Use your report to highlight your accomplishments, but also to highlight areas which need further attention or the board’s help. By addressing these areas, your board members can be confident that their time is well spent and that the company is heading in the right direction.
It’s also recommended to include a section that acknowledges board members and staff who have performed beyond expectations. This will motivate your team, and also show you appreciate their efforts. Make sure to check your report for mistakes before presenting it to the board. You can use Grammarly or ask someone else to proofread your report to spot any errors prior to presenting it to the board.