We're similar at our public safety regulatory body.  Committee meetings usually stretch to half-days and the retreat is multi-day, but I think these kind of differences will depend on your organization and board. 

Hi Karen,

We're NFP, but not in the typical sense (i.e. not a charity). We also hold our board meetings quarterly (4-5 hours in length), and 2-3 hours for each of the 4 committees. We normally do a 1-1/2 to 2-day strategic planning offsite annually (which also includes some other things like an annual Board education session, meeting with one of our Advisory bodies).

This year, of course has been different. We've been doing board meetings once a month - albeit the ones in between the larger quarterly meetings have been shorter (1-2 hours) and directly related to COVID related updates.

On materials, we have an intensive review cycle with our Executive Team. 3 weeks before, a first draft review (the longest 4 hour meeting), 2 weeks before a final review with the executive team and 1 week before send out the final materials to the board on an electronic portal. 

Our Board meets monthly with training sessions in July and August instead of meetings.  In October, we hold a 2.5 day conference; this year, we cut it down to the bare bones, strictly what needed to be approved (budget, etc.) in order for the organization to keep moving.  Just to note that we are a union.

Our monthly meetings are 1 hour in length and the agenda is very focused, as are the discussions.  We provide material 1 week in advance however if there is a topic that is complex/has a lot of supporting material, we send it out as far in advance as possible so the discussion is fulsome and the Board feels they have met their fiduciary duty.