Problem: Board members violating confidentiality
4.06.2024
For most nonprofit organizations, board deliberations need to be held in confidence. In general, board minutes should report board actions, but not all the conversation leading up to the action. Specifically, the minutes should not state who or how many board members were holding what opinion. The minutes do not have to share what the vote was on any topic either, just that the board decided. If confidential details of board deliberations are leaking out, the board chair should remind board members to hold board conversations in confidence. Each year, all board members should sign a confidentiality agreement and a conflict of interest statement. Doing this regularly prevents the need to bring out the forms when rumors start flying.