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The ten-slide board meeting deck

A good board deck gets through the reports quickly and spends the meeting on the decisions only the board can make. Ten slides is enough to do that in about thirty minutes.

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The ten slides

  • 1. Title, the date, and the one decision you need from the board today.
  • 2. Since the last meeting: three things that happened, in one line each.
  • 3. Programs: who you served, against the plan.
  • 4. Money in: revenue and fundraising, against budget.
  • 5. Money out: expenses against budget, and cash on hand in months.
  • 6. One story from the work, with a photo you have permission to use.
  • 7. Risks and problems, stated plainly.
  • 8. The decision you need, with the options and your recommendation.
  • 9. What you are asking each board member to do before the next meeting.
  • 10. Next meeting date and the calendar ahead.

Before the meeting

  • Send the deck and the financials at least five days ahead.
  • Put the decision near the front of the agenda, not after an hour of reports.
  • Keep it to 30 minutes of presenting. The rest of the meeting is for the board.

These guides are general practice tips, not legal, tax or compliance advice. Follow IRS rules and your states’ requirements, and have a person review donor communications before they go out.

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