What Is a Consent Agenda—and Should Your Board Use One?
If your board meetings often run long or get bogged down in routine approvals or long-winded updates, a consent agenda might be the solution you didn’t know you needed.
What is a Consent Agenda?
A consent agenda (also called a consent calendar) is a tool that groups routine, non-controversial items together for a single vote—without discussion. Instead of reviewing each item individually, the board can approve them all at once, freeing up time for strategic conversations.
Examples of Consent Agenda Items:
Anything that is routine and familiar, that doesn’t require discussion, and that doesn’t involve conflict or disagreement could be included in a consent agenda. Boards should agree in advance what kind of items will be included, such as:
Approval of prior meeting minutes
Routine financial reports
Committee reports that require no action
Staff updates provided for information only
Documents needing routine or small changes (e.g., typo, new address, etc.)
Rules for Using a Consent Agenda:
Distribute materials in advance. Board members must have time to review all consent items before the meeting.
Any member can request an item be removed from the consent agenda. If there’s a question or concern, it should be pulled from the consent agenda and discussed separately.
Approve with one motion. Once any requested items are removed, the remaining consent items are approved together with a single vote.
After approving the consent agenda, the meeting can continue to other items.
When Should You Use a Consent Agenda?
Consent agendas are best for recurring, low-stakes items that don’t require debate or deliberation. They work well when your board already has strong preparation habits and when meeting time is better spent on strategy, fundraising, or mission-critical issues.
Bottom line: A consent agenda isn’t just a time-saver—it’s a tool for running more efficient, focused, and effective board meetings.