Contents for a Board Member Orientation Packet
Checklist
of Items to Include in a
Board Member’s
Orientation Packet/Handbook
Section
I: Organizational Background
- Vision/Mission Statement
- Fact sheet: describes activities of organization; size of budget; size of membership
- Current long range or strategic plan
Section
II: Governance
- Board list (with addresses, phone and fax numbers, Email addresses)
- Board Member job description; job descriptions for advisory, honorary, junior board members
- Meeting dates for the current year
- Governing Documents: Constitution, By-laws, copy of Charter (if applicable)
- 3-6 months of recent minutes
- Criteria for board candidates
- Committee Descriptions/Current Tasks
Section
III: Finance
- Most recent financial statements/audited statement (if available)
- Any financial plans and policies, i.e., endowment policy
Section
IV: Policies
- Collection Management Policy
- Ethics Policy
- Personnel Policy
- Facility Use
- Others
Section
V: Staff /Key Volunteers
- Staff list
- Job descriptions of staff
- Resumes or bios of key staff
Section VI:
Program
- Newsletter/Program brochures, copies of recent press releases, etc.
- Membership Information
- Most recent grant applications or a synopsis of current and pending grant requests
Board Member’s Bookshelf Bibliography
Developed by Anne W. Ackerson , Independent Consultant Providing Management, Development & Creative Services to Cultural Organizations T: 518-271-2455 E: anne@awackerson.com.