mission Matters Are You Prepared for Your Nonprofit’s Annual Meeting? June 06, 2024 The mid-year mark is the perfect time to get your ducks in a row for your annual meeting. Is your organization prepared? Don’t put your organization’s transparency and compliance at risk! Read on. An annual meeting serves multiple purposes for a nonprofit organization, including board of director elections, evaluating mission progress, reviewing financials and more. Here are some key considerations you should take into consideration at this mid-year mark. What is the purpose of an annual meeting for a nonprofit? Annual meetings are typically required under an organization’s governing documents. The annual meeting serves multiple purposes including board elections, evaluating mission progress, affirming company values and culture, reviewing financials, setting the budget, and strategic planning for the upcoming year. Check out our blog, How to Plan an Effective Annual Meeting for Your Non-Profit for more details. Why is the mid-year mark a good time to start planning? Scheduling your board meetings in advance is a good best practice to get optimal attendance as consistent attendance increases director engagement. Planning at the mid-year mark is common for nonprofits as organizations have likely planned or implemented annual plans and initiatives identified at the last annual meeting. It’s a strategic time to assess progress towards annual goals, make adjustments as needed, and plan for the remainder of the year. What’s at stake if you do not hold an annual meeting? Loss of transparencyLegal consequences/potential loss of tax exempt statusLack of communication/engagement with donorsUncertainty surrounding goals/ future plansDelayed decision making It is wise to prepare for the meeting by refreshing yourself on key objectives for the forthcoming year and assess protocols, including: Orientation and training processes for the board of directorsAmendments to bylawsHuman resources guidelinesInsurance schemes and staff perksPolicies ensuring legal compliance and organizing a timetable for reviewing the organization's licenses, state submissions, tax returns, and record preservation protocolsDiversity and inclusivity measuresFundraising tacticsRegulations governing governanceInteraction with the mediaSafety measuresStrategic blueprintTechnology protocols encompassing cybersecurity strategies and schedules for hardware upgradesAdministration of volunteers.
