Free Meeting Minutes Templates

By Kate Eby | March 7, 2016

In this article, you’ll find a comprehensive selection of free meeting minutes templates for Word. These downloadable templates are easy to use and can be customized to fit your needs, allowing you to keep your meetings organized and on track.

Included on this page, you’ll find a basic meeting minutes template, project meeting minutes template, board meeting minutes template, and more.

Classic Meeting Minutes Template

 

Classic Meeting Minutes Template

This free meeting minutes template has a classic outline and is simple to use. It’s intended to follow the Robert’s Rules of Order meeting procedures, similar to the formal meeting minutes template below.

Download Classic Meeting Minutes Template

Word | Smartsheet

Basic Meeting Minutes Template

 

Basic Meeting Minutes Template

The basic meeting minutes template clearly lists action items and deadlines. This template could be used in a business setting, or for a school, club or any organization with committee meetings. The clear layout makes it easy to see who was running the meeting and what agenda items were discussed. There is also room to list who recorded the minutes, which is helpful when there is not an assigned secretary.

Download Basic Meeting Minutes Template

Word | Smartsheet

Project Meeting Minutes Template

 

Project Meeting Minutes Template

If you’re meeting to discuss an ongoing project, get consistent and organized minutes with this project meeting template. List the project name at the top of the template, along with the objective for your current meeting. The simple format makes this template easy to read and refer back to, especially for those who were not able to attend the meeting. There is room for action items to be clearly assigned, and plans for the next meeting can be added at the bottom of the template.

Download Project Meeting Template

Word | Smartsheet

Actions Meeting Minutes Template

 

Meeting Minutes Actions and Agenda Template

This template would work well for staff meetings or any meeting that doesn’t require many formal steps or a lot of detailed information. Easily outline your agenda items and then connect action plans to those items once they have been discussed and agreed upon.

Download Agenda and Actions Meeting Minute Template

Word | Smartsheet

Formal Meeting Minutes Template

 

Formal Meeting Minutes Template

This formal meeting minutes template follows the guidelines of Robert’s Rules of Order, including the call to order, attendees, reports, announcements and motions that were presented and voted on. After being approved as a record for the next meeting, the secretary can sign and date the minutes at the bottom of the page. This template covers the basics while leaving plenty of room for more detail if necessary.

Download Formal Meeting Minutes Template

Word | Smartsheet

Informal Meeting Minutes Template

 

Informal Meeting Minutes Template

If your meeting doesn’t follow formal proceedings, and your minutes don’t require a lot of detail, this informal meeting minutes template gives you the basics. Having a simple outline to follow is more organized than simply writing a page of notes, and this template can be expanded or shortened depending on your needs. 

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Board Meeting Minutes Template

 

Board Meeting Minutes Template

This free template for board meeting minutes allows you to keep track of which board members were in attendance to ensure that quorum is met. And the outline makes it easy to create a detailed record of comments, reports, agenda items and votes. Spaces for signatures are included so that the board chair can approve the minutes.

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Detailed Meeting Minutes Template

 

Detailed Meeting Minutes Template

The format of the detailed meeting minutes template makes it easy to record a lot of information in an organized manner. Capture all the important details from your meeting, including additional notes and information that may not fit in the spaces for action and agenda items. Decisions can be clearly listed, and there is room at the top to state the meeting’s objective, helping to keep all attendees focused and on track.

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Staff Meeting Minutes Template

 

Staff Meeting Minutes Template

This staff meeting minutes template will help keep meetings organized and on schedule. There is room for the meeting agenda to be outlined in detail, and a time frame can be allocated for each agenda item. Issues raised in previous meetings can be addressed along with new agenda items and information on staff trainings. You can also note which staff members are attending the meeting and who is facilitating.

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Corporate Meeting Minutes Template

 

Corporate Meeting Minutes Template

Customize this free corporate meeting minutes template by inserting your company name or logo at the top. The format of this template is bold yet simple, making it easy to use as a reference tool after a meeting. Action items, their owners and deadlines are clearly marked and organized by topic. Providing a copy of the minutes to everyone on your corporate team can help move your objectives forward.

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Meeting Minutes Format Template

 

Meeting Minutes Format Template

This sample meeting minutes format gives you an idea of what type of information to include in each section. It’s a handy template for those who are new to taking meeting minutes and includes enough detail to make sure all aspects of a meeting are covered. The template includes examples of agenda items as well as instructions for how to distribute the minutes to attendees after a meeting.

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How to Take Productive Meeting Minutes

Whether a meeting’s objective is to make policy decisions that affect a large organization or to simply assign responsibilities to staff members, having concise and organized meeting minutes is important. The minutes serve as a record of motions that were passed and as a reminder of who owns certain tasks. Taking minutes during a meeting might sound overwhelming, but following these guidelines can help the process go smoothly.

  • Plan your agenda. Create an outline around your agenda items and note how much time will be allocated for each item.
  • Brush up on Robert’s Rules of Order. If you’re following formal meeting procedures, choose a meeting minutes template that includes the steps outlined in Robert’s Rules of Order.
  • Check attendees as they arrive. Save time during your meeting by recording attendance as each member arrives. Also note which members are not present.
  • Clarify decisions. Before the meeting moves on to a new agenda item, make sure a clear decision has been made and recorded. 
  • Capture the essential information. Don’t try to capture every detail in the minutes, but be sure to include decisions that were made as well as assignments and action items. Using a template for minutes will help you stick to the outline and make sure every agenda item was covered thoroughly.
  • Edit for clarity. Soon after a meeting, use your notes to write out the minutes in a more readable form. Use an objective tone and keep the minutes brief while still including all essential information, such as actions and motions. Summarize any pertinent comment points, but avoid anything personal or inflammatory. Aim to create a professional document that can serve as a record of your meeting.

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