The IRS has started asking for minutes of board meeting during the first phase of an audit. They are currently seeking information on how focused the board is on the mission compared to finances and other matters.
Of course, you can’t go to a board meeting without spending a little bit of time on the finances and personnel. We all know that you can’t run the mission without the money and the right people. Agents seem almost desperate to find ways to revoke an organization’s tax exemption. This all seems a bit silly and extreme. However, don’t make yourself a test case. Make sure that your minutes reflect that you spent most of your time discussing various aspects of the mission. If necessary, have an outside party review them.
Here are links to other articles on Board minutes:
WHY ORGANIZATIONS (FOR PROFIT AND NOT FOR PROFIT) NEED CORPORATE MINUTES
