https://boardroomofficial.com/preparing-your-nonprofit-board-for-a-fundraising-campaign/

Board decision papers are written documents that aid board members to fulfill their oversight responsibilities and take informed decisions on company matters. They should be short but informative, with a clear executive summary and supporting appendices.

Directors can be helped to make the right decisions through discussing alternatives analysis, a review of key metrics such as research or competitive insight and an understanding of the operating environment that influenced their decision-making. They may also consider the effects of the different options on the business. It is also useful to show how management chose the preferred recommendation. This could include explaining the different options considered or a summary of the pros/cons for each, as being able to show how the suggested method scored against the factors.

Board documents should be free from legalese and jargon, with a formal business writing style used throughout to make the content relevant and accessible to every director. Charts and graphs can be used to summarize information and data trends, as well as break up dense blocks of text. It’s also a good idea to read the paper out loud to your colleagues or peers to ensure that the most important points are clearly communicated. If you’re in need of clarification on something, you should solicit feedback or views from the board.