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How to Write a Professional Board Resolution to Guide Your Next Meeting

Olujinmi Oluwatoni
Written by Olujinmi Oluwatoni
Published at Jul 29, 2023
How to Write a Professional Board Resolution to Guide Your Next Meeting

Boards sit at the helm of the company, making important decisions that impact shareholders and the company.

But much more than that, 95% of directors and executives believe they are tasked with building and protecting stakeholders’ trust.

To provide transparency and further deepen trust, their decisions are communicated via a board resolution. Beyond providing accountability, board resolutions serves as a legal record of an organization's strategic directions.

If you’re wondering how you can create a detailed and practical board resolution for your next board meeting, look no further.

In this article, we’ll discuss all there is to know about a board resolution. We’ll also feature some professional board resolution templates that can be customized to suit your company’s needs in minutes!

 

Table of Contents

Quick Read

  • A board resolution is the official record of a board of directors' meeting decisions. It's also called a board of directors resolution or corporation resolution.
  • Using a board resolution templates is important because it saves time, is easy to customize, ensures consistency in the company’s records and guarantees proper formatting.
  • The following are some important details that should be found in your board resolution: Date, title of the resolution, resolution number, resolution clauses, board of directors names and signatures.
  • Visme has professionally designed templates, features and tools to help you create your board resolution seamlessly.

 

What Is a Board Resolution?

A board resolution is a formal documentation of decisions made by directors in a board meeting. It serves as an official collection of motions that have been ruled on and authorized by the board. A board resolution can also be referred to as a corporate resolution or a board of directors resolution.

How are Board Resolutions Used?

It is important to note that the details of your board resolution should only reflect the decisions made during the board meeting. This means it can’t carry what was said before or after the meeting.

For this reason, a board resolution will often be found in your board of directors meeting minutes. Usually, the company secretary takes notes of all discussions made during your meeting. And right after, specific decisions that require action are highlighted and drafted into a board resolution.

This document is then shared with appropriate committees or stakeholders that will act on the decisions made. With the authority of the board, these committees can be held responsible for the outcome of their decisions.

The board resolution is vital for officially delegating important tasks and responsibilities across the company. It also becomes part of your company’s corporate record and is kept for future reference. Consequently, it can come in handy as a legally binding document if requested by a legal authority.

Your company’s daily operations don’t require corporate resolutions. Here are a few topics that require a board resolution:

  • Appointing or dismissing a CEO, director, or executive
  • Authorizing the purchase or sale of an asset, shares, or your company’s real estate
  • Acquiring a new company
  • Approving financial investments or credit loans
  • Signing new contracts or entering into long-term lease agreements
  • Adjusting employee salaries, bonuses and company benefits

When such issues are raised and contemplated, each board member, whether present physically or virtually, will be asked to vote. Once a resolution is passed on the topic, it should be formally documented in a board resolution.

 

The Purpose of Using a Board Resolution Template

Board resolution templates are a great way to present a well-drafted and professional board resolution to your board chair or other directors.

Let’s take a look at why a board resolution template is the best fit for you.

Saves Time

Board resolution templates save you time. They help you record the board's decisions in an efficient and precise manner.

Among your other responsibilities, drafting a board resolution from scratch may leave you overwhelmed and force you to do it in a hurry.

Having a set template, on the other hand, would give you ample time to prepare an appropriate and streamlined board resolution on that matter.

All you will need to do is customize the template to suit the particular resolution you are working on. Visme’s AI writer saves time and fuels creativity, making it easy for you to create accurate board resolution content.

Easy to Customize

One fun thing about board resolution templates is the ease of customization.

This is even more pleasant if you’re using Visme’s Brand Wizard tool. Visme saves your company’s brand kit with this tool. All you have to do is input your brand URL and it will automatically detect your company’s colors, font, logo and more.

Once you are ready to customize your board resolution template, Visme will automatically update the document with your company’s brand assets. Leaving you with a board resolution that is streamlined for your company.

This branded document removes the hassle of designing a new template every time you need to draw up a new resolution.

Consistency in Company Records

Imagine your company has a new board secretary who is required to prepare a board resolution for your just concluded board meeting.

Without clear direction, they may try to take a look at previous board resolutions or google some examples. This, however, can lead to inconsistencies in the format of your company document or an inaccurate board resolution.

Having a customized board resolution template can help. It ensures consistency and uniformity in all company records throughout the lifetime of your company.

Guarantees Proper Formatting

Hiring or outsourcing your board resolution to a lawyer every time you need one can be costly, time-consuming, or just inconvenient.

Visme’s board resolution template is formatted to fit legal criteria. You can rest assured that you'll have a standard board resolution by the time you’re done customizing.

 

What to Include in a Board Resolution

Your board resolution should be clear and easy to understand while maintaining a formal tone.

Here are some important details that must be found in your board resolution.

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 Date

The date of the resolution should be placed at the top of the page. You can also include the time and location of the board meeting.

Title of Resolution

The title of your board resolution should be in accordance with the theme of the resolution. It should reflect what the resolution is all about. For example, “Adoption Of 4-Hour Workweek Policy”.

Resolution Number

Each board resolution needs to have a distinct serial number or tag. This helps with proper documentation and record-keeping.

If you will be preparing your first resolution, you can start with serial number “001" and accord each new resolution with a consecutive number or tag.

The resolution number should also be at the top of the document, usually beside the date.

Resolution Clauses

The body of your board resolution will be divided into two main parts.

The first part will highlight issues raised and the matters discussed. Every statement made in this regard should begin with the clause “WHEREAS” in block letters.

The second part of the board resolution signifies the decisions made and emphasizes the next line of action. When writing the resolutions, each statement should begin with the clause “RESOLVED” or “RESOLVED THAT”, also in block letters.

The whereas statement guides the reader to the resolved statements.

Board of Directors Names and Signature

Directors who were present at the board meeting and voted on a resolution should sign the board resolution once approved by the board chairman.

At the end of your document, list all the names of the directors present and their votes.

Also, there should be a space for each director, the board chairman and the company secretary to sign.

 

3 Board Resolution Templates to Use

Now you know the key features of a professional board resolution. Let’s dig into 3 corporate board resolution templates to give you a better idea of the format.
These templates can also act as a canvas for you to customize to fit your company's needs.

Visme’s templates and features are versatile. Hear what one of our users has to say:
Creating and sharing visually appealing content is quick and easy with Visme. I often find myself jumping into Visme during a meeting and finding an infographic or two to share stats and data. The response I receive about the data and presentation stylings are always positive and people want to learn more about Visme - which I'm glad to do.

Paul | Sustainable Travel Services Coordinator

Now, let’s get to the templates!

 

Unanimous Board Resolution Template

Have you and your board decided to acquire a new company? Or perhaps you have all come to a unanimous decision. This sleek board resolution template is the right fit for you.

In this template, notice that each paragraph is clear, without bluff and straight to the point. Your board resolution must follow these principles. Make your board resolution an interactive flipbook to present a more appealing document to your board.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

 

Ordinary Board Resolution Template

Declaration of dividends or distributions is a crucial part of any company’s financial decision.

In the first half of this board resolution template, the “WHEREAS” clause gives your readers insight into the board’s deliberations and rationale on this topic.

In the “RESOLVED THAT” section, each resolution is listed numerically. It includes the dividend per share, the due date of payment and who is responsible for overseeing this action.

Want to be sure you’re putting down all the accurate figures? Visme’s collaboration tool will assist you during the review process. Different board members can read through the documents, make their reviews and append the signatures. With that, there’s no back-and-forth of corrections or modifications.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

 

Special Board Resolution Template

A special board resolution is a type of resolution that requires 75% of votes for a motion to be passed.

This eye-catching board resolution template is a great way for your board of directors to communicate their decisions on changes in employee work hours, benefits, or bonuses.

In this template, your company name appears across various paragraphs and pages. You can utilize Visme’s dynamic field feature to automatically insert your company name and other key company information across multiple pages in real-time.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

 

Board Resolution FAQs

Have you chosen a board resolution template that suits your company’s needs?
If you have, let’s dig a bit deeper and answer some questions you may have about board resolutions.

How Do You Write a Board Resolution?

Follow this step-by-step method to write your board resolution.

  • Select a suitable template.
  • Update resolution number and date.
  • Determine the resolution title.
  • Document the board's decisions formally.
  • Use the "WHEREAS" clause to note each matter discussed.
  • Use the "RESOLVED THAT/RESOLVED FURTHER THAT" clause to highlight the decisions established.
  • Record each director's vote.
  • Assign each director a space to sign by their name.

What Is a Normal Board Resolution?

A normal board resolution is the formal documentation of a board's decisions. Here, 50% of the directors' votes are needed to establish a resolution. A normal board resolution is also referred to as Ordinary Resolution. Other types of board resolutions include special resolution and unanimous resolution.

Does a Board Resolution Need to Be Signed by All Directors?

Yes. Ideally, a board resolution should be signed by all directors that were present at the board meeting. Board resolutions may include the names of all directors present and their unanimous votes. The board chair and secretary may also sign the board resolution.

When Is a Board Resolution Required?

Board resolutions are required when important decisions regarding a company's activity are discussed and resolved. When matters that determine a company's growth are raised, a board resolution is needed to record and authorize action. Such matters can include the appointment of chief officers, financial investments, or the sale of company assets.

Is Board Resolution Same as Director Resolution?

Yes, a director resolution is also known as a board resolution and it contains all matters discussed and decisions made by directors during the board meeting.

What Is the Difference Between Board Resolution and Written Resolution?

A board resolution is included in the Board of Directors board meeting minutes. This means they are recorded while voting in a physical meeting takes place. With a written resolution, directors don't need to be present at a board meeting. They make decisions in writing and send the written resolution electronically for all directors to vote unanimously.

 

Easily Create Executive-Level Documents with Visme

Board resolutions are a great way to keep track of your company’s vital operations and build trust in stakeholders. This guide covered how to build a detailed board resolution and featured some easily customizable templates.

Now, it’s time to start creating professional board resolutions that’ll impress your board members. Visme is a versatile and indispensable tool for effortlessly creating execute-level documents. With its robust features, Visme empowers businesses to streamline their communication and collaboration processes.

Whether you need to produce persuasive sales decks, engaging executive reports, or comprehensive project plans, Visme makes the creation process a breeze.

Don’t spend another second thinking! Empower yourself to create engaging professional and executive-level documents today.

Olujinmi Oluwatoni
Written by Olujinmi Oluwatoni

Olujinmi is passionate about helping B2B and SaaS brands with great products tell their stories. She creates data-driven content that’s helpful, inspires brand trust and drives engagement. When she’s not writing, she enjoys composing songs or trying out new recipes. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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