diff --git a/backend/app/api/board_onboarding.py b/backend/app/api/board_onboarding.py
index 7f45b20f..5ef21e63 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/board_onboarding.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/board_onboarding.py
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ async def start_onboarding(
     prompt = (
         "BOARD ONBOARDING REQUEST\n\n"
         f"Board Name: {board.name}\n"
+        f"Board Description: {board.description or '(not provided)'}\n"
         "You are the gateway agent. Ask the user 6-10 focused questions total:\n"
         "- 3-6 questions to clarify the board goal.\n"
         "- 1 question to choose a unique name for the board lead agent "
diff --git a/backend/app/models/boards.py b/backend/app/models/boards.py
index 43134260..8731128b 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/boards.py
+++ b/backend/app/models/boards.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ class Board(TenantScoped, table=True):
     organization_id: UUID = Field(foreign_key="organizations.id", index=True)
     name: str
     slug: str = Field(index=True)
+    description: str = Field(default="")
     gateway_id: UUID | None = Field(default=None, foreign_key="gateways.id", index=True)
     board_group_id: UUID | None = Field(
         default=None,
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/boards.py b/backend/app/schemas/boards.py
index 7b4afa51..3727cd2a 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas/boards.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/boards.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from sqlmodel import SQLModel
 
 _ERR_GOAL_FIELDS_REQUIRED = "Confirmed goal boards require objective and success_metrics"
 _ERR_GATEWAY_REQUIRED = "gateway_id is required"
+_ERR_DESCRIPTION_REQUIRED = "description is required"
 RUNTIME_ANNOTATION_TYPES = (datetime, UUID)
 
 
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ class BoardBase(SQLModel):
 
     name: str
     slug: str
+    description: str
     gateway_id: UUID | None = None
     board_group_id: UUID | None = None
     board_type: str = "goal"
@@ -37,6 +39,10 @@ class BoardCreate(BoardBase):
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def validate_goal_fields(self) -> Self:
         """Require gateway and goal details when creating a confirmed goal board."""
+        description = self.description.strip()
+        if not description:
+            raise ValueError(_ERR_DESCRIPTION_REQUIRED)
+        self.description = description
         if self.gateway_id is None:
             raise ValueError(_ERR_GATEWAY_REQUIRED)
         if (
@@ -53,6 +59,7 @@ class BoardUpdate(SQLModel):
 
     name: str | None = None
     slug: str | None = None
+    description: str | None = None
     gateway_id: UUID | None = None
     board_group_id: UUID | None = None
     board_type: str | None = None
@@ -68,6 +75,13 @@ class BoardUpdate(SQLModel):
         # Treat explicit null like "unset" is invalid for patch updates.
         if "gateway_id" in self.model_fields_set and self.gateway_id is None:
             raise ValueError(_ERR_GATEWAY_REQUIRED)
+        if "description" in self.model_fields_set:
+            if self.description is None:
+                raise ValueError(_ERR_DESCRIPTION_REQUIRED)
+            description = self.description.strip()
+            if not description:
+                raise ValueError(_ERR_DESCRIPTION_REQUIRED)
+            self.description = description
         return self
 
 
diff --git a/backend/migrations/versions/c3b58a391f2e_add_boards_description.py b/backend/migrations/versions/c3b58a391f2e_add_boards_description.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6c598da0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/migrations/versions/c3b58a391f2e_add_boards_description.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+"""Add description field to boards.
+
+Revision ID: c3b58a391f2e
+Revises: b308f2876359
+Create Date: 2026-02-11 00:00:00.000000
+
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from alembic import op
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = "c3b58a391f2e"
+down_revision = "b308f2876359"
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    """Add required board description column."""
+    op.add_column(
+        "boards",
+        sa.Column(
+            "description",
+            sa.String(),
+            nullable=False,
+            server_default="",
+        ),
+    )
+    op.alter_column("boards", "description", server_default=None)
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    """Remove board description column."""
+    op.drop_column("boards", "description")
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_board_schema.py b/backend/tests/test_board_schema.py
index d39c05f8..5c27781e 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_board_schema.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_board_schema.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from uuid import uuid4
 import pytest
 
 from app.schemas.board_onboarding import BoardOnboardingConfirm
-from app.schemas.boards import BoardCreate
+from app.schemas.boards import BoardCreate, BoardUpdate
 
 
 def test_goal_board_requires_objective_and_metrics_when_confirmed() -> None:
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ def test_goal_board_requires_objective_and_metrics_when_confirmed() -> None:
         BoardCreate(
             name="Goal Board",
             slug="goal",
+            description="Ship onboarding improvements.",
             gateway_id=uuid4(),
             board_type="goal",
             goal_confirmed=True,
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ def test_goal_board_requires_objective_and_metrics_when_confirmed() -> None:
     BoardCreate(
         name="Goal Board",
         slug="goal",
+        description="Ship onboarding improvements.",
         gateway_id=uuid4(),
         board_type="goal",
         goal_confirmed=True,
@@ -36,7 +38,13 @@ def test_goal_board_requires_objective_and_metrics_when_confirmed() -> None:
 
 def test_goal_board_allows_missing_objective_before_confirmation() -> None:
     """Draft goal boards may omit objective/success_metrics before confirmation."""
-    BoardCreate(name="Draft", slug="draft", gateway_id=uuid4(), board_type="goal")
+    BoardCreate(
+        name="Draft",
+        slug="draft",
+        description="Iterate on backlog hygiene.",
+        gateway_id=uuid4(),
+        board_type="goal",
+    )
 
 
 def test_general_board_allows_missing_objective() -> None:
@@ -44,11 +52,30 @@ def test_general_board_allows_missing_objective() -> None:
     BoardCreate(
         name="General",
         slug="general",
+        description="General coordination board.",
         gateway_id=uuid4(),
         board_type="general",
     )
 
 
+def test_board_create_requires_description() -> None:
+    """Board creation should reject empty descriptions."""
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="description is required"):
+        BoardCreate(
+            name="Goal Board",
+            slug="goal",
+            description="  ",
+            gateway_id=uuid4(),
+            board_type="goal",
+        )
+
+
+def test_board_update_rejects_empty_description_patch() -> None:
+    """Patch payloads should reject blank descriptions."""
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="description is required"):
+        BoardUpdate(description="   ")
+
+
 def test_onboarding_confirm_requires_goal_fields() -> None:
     """Onboarding confirm should enforce goal fields for goal board types."""
     with pytest.raises(
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardCreate.ts b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardCreate.ts
index effeacea..b4ac78ed 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardCreate.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardCreate.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import type { BoardCreateSuccessMetrics } from "./boardCreateSuccessMetrics";
 export interface BoardCreate {
   name: string;
   slug: string;
+  description: string;
   gateway_id?: string | null;
   board_group_id?: string | null;
   board_type?: string;
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardOnboardingAgentComplete.ts b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardOnboardingAgentComplete.ts
index a5ac5b8a..ff354b4a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardOnboardingAgentComplete.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardOnboardingAgentComplete.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 import type { BoardOnboardingAgentCompleteSuccessMetrics } from "./boardOnboardingAgentCompleteSuccessMetrics";
 import type { BoardOnboardingLeadAgentDraft } from "./boardOnboardingLeadAgentDraft";
 import type { BoardOnboardingUserProfile } from "./boardOnboardingUserProfile";
-import { BoardOnboardingAgentCompleteStatus } from "./boardOnboardingAgentCompleteStatus";
 
 /**
  * Complete onboarding draft produced by the onboarding assistant.
@@ -17,7 +16,7 @@ export interface BoardOnboardingAgentComplete {
   objective?: string | null;
   success_metrics?: BoardOnboardingAgentCompleteSuccessMetrics;
   target_date?: string | null;
-  status: BoardOnboardingAgentCompleteStatus;
+  status: "complete";
   user_profile?: BoardOnboardingUserProfile | null;
   lead_agent?: BoardOnboardingLeadAgentDraft | null;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardRead.ts b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardRead.ts
index 04f6029f..80514f09 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardRead.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardRead.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import type { BoardReadSuccessMetrics } from "./boardReadSuccessMetrics";
 export interface BoardRead {
   name: string;
   slug: string;
+  description: string;
   gateway_id?: string | null;
   board_group_id?: string | null;
   board_type?: string;
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardUpdate.ts b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardUpdate.ts
index 07b3cb5d..4ecfffd8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardUpdate.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/boardUpdate.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import type { BoardUpdateSuccessMetrics } from "./boardUpdateSuccessMetrics";
 export interface BoardUpdate {
   name?: string | null;
   slug?: string | null;
+  description?: string | null;
   gateway_id?: string | null;
   board_group_id?: string | null;
   board_type?: string | null;
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/index.ts b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/index.ts
index 0f832836..0261ddaa 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/index.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/index.ts
@@ -206,3 +206,4 @@ export * from "./updateAgentApiV1AgentsAgentIdPatchParams";
 export * from "./userRead";
 export * from "./userUpdate";
 export * from "./validationError";
+export * from "./validationErrorCtx";
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/validationError.ts b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/validationError.ts
index 14d2b708..cfb105f7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/validationError.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/validationError.ts
@@ -4,9 +4,12 @@
  * Mission Control API
  * OpenAPI spec version: 0.1.0
  */
+import type { ValidationErrorCtx } from "./validationErrorCtx";
 
 export interface ValidationError {
   loc: (string | number)[];
   msg: string;
   type: string;
+  input?: unknown;
+  ctx?: ValidationErrorCtx;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/generated/model/validationErrorCtx.ts b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/validationErrorCtx.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..43cb1c57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/api/generated/model/validationErrorCtx.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+/**
+ * Generated by orval v8.2.0 🍺
+ * Do not edit manually.
+ * Mission Control API
+ * OpenAPI spec version: 0.1.0
+ */
+
+export type ValidationErrorCtx = { [key: string]: unknown };
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/boards/[boardId]/edit/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/boards/[boardId]/edit/page.tsx
index 4fbd2b17..6a5e561d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/boards/[boardId]/edit/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/boards/[boardId]/edit/page.tsx
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ export default function EditBoardPage() {
 
   const [board, setBoard] = useState<BoardRead | null>(null);
   const [name, setName] = useState<string | undefined>(undefined);
+  const [description, setDescription] = useState<string | undefined>(undefined);
   const [gatewayId, setGatewayId] = useState<string | undefined>(undefined);
   const [boardGroupId, setBoardGroupId] = useState<string | undefined>(
     undefined,
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ export default function EditBoardPage() {
   const baseBoard = board ?? loadedBoard;
 
   const resolvedName = name ?? baseBoard?.name ?? "";
+  const resolvedDescription = description ?? baseBoard?.description ?? "";
   const resolvedGatewayId = gatewayId ?? baseBoard?.gateway_id ?? "";
   const resolvedBoardGroupId =
     boardGroupId ?? baseBoard?.board_group_id ?? "none";
@@ -209,7 +211,9 @@ export default function EditBoardPage() {
     boardQuery.error?.message ??
     null;
 
-  const isFormReady = Boolean(resolvedName.trim() && displayGatewayId);
+  const isFormReady = Boolean(
+    resolvedName.trim() && resolvedDescription.trim() && displayGatewayId,
+  );
 
   const gatewayOptions = useMemo(
     () =>
@@ -231,6 +235,7 @@ export default function EditBoardPage() {
 
   const handleOnboardingConfirmed = (updated: BoardRead) => {
     setBoard(updated);
+    setDescription(updated.description ?? "");
     setBoardType(updated.board_type ?? "goal");
     setObjective(updated.objective ?? "");
     setSuccessMetrics(
@@ -256,6 +261,11 @@ export default function EditBoardPage() {
       setError("Select a gateway before saving.");
       return;
     }
+    const trimmedDescription = resolvedDescription.trim();
+    if (!trimmedDescription) {
+      setError("Board description is required.");
+      return;
+    }
 
     setError(null);
     setMetricsError(null);
@@ -276,6 +286,7 @@ export default function EditBoardPage() {
     const payload: BoardUpdate = {
       name: trimmedName,
       slug: slugify(trimmedName),
+      description: trimmedDescription,
       gateway_id: resolvedGatewayId || null,
       board_group_id:
         resolvedBoardGroupId === "none" ? null : resolvedBoardGroupId,
@@ -410,6 +421,19 @@ export default function EditBoardPage() {
               </div>
             </div>
 
+            <div className="space-y-2">
+              <label className="text-sm font-medium text-slate-900">
+                Description <span className="text-red-500">*</span>
+              </label>
+              <Textarea
+                value={resolvedDescription}
+                onChange={(event) => setDescription(event.target.value)}
+                placeholder="What context should the lead agent know?"
+                className="min-h-[120px]"
+                disabled={isLoading}
+              />
+            </div>
+
             <div className="space-y-2">
               <label className="text-sm font-medium text-slate-900">
                 Objective
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/boards/new/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/boards/new/page.tsx
index 09aeb346..8a0d9f95 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/boards/new/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/boards/new/page.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import { DashboardPageLayout } from "@/components/templates/DashboardPageLayout"
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
 import SearchableSelect from "@/components/ui/searchable-select";
+import { Textarea } from "@/components/ui/textarea";
 
 const slugify = (value: string) =>
   value
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ export default function NewBoardPage() {
   const { isAdmin } = useOrganizationMembership(isSignedIn);
 
   const [name, setName] = useState("");
+  const [description, setDescription] = useState("");
   const [gatewayId, setGatewayId] = useState<string>("");
   const [boardGroupId, setBoardGroupId] = useState<string>("none");
 
@@ -95,7 +97,9 @@ export default function NewBoardPage() {
   const errorMessage =
     error ?? gatewaysQuery.error?.message ?? groupsQuery.error?.message ?? null;
 
-  const isFormReady = Boolean(name.trim() && displayGatewayId);
+  const isFormReady = Boolean(
+    name.trim() && description.trim() && displayGatewayId,
+  );
 
   const gatewayOptions = useMemo(
     () =>
@@ -124,6 +128,11 @@ export default function NewBoardPage() {
       setError("Select a gateway before creating a board.");
       return;
     }
+    const trimmedDescription = description.trim();
+    if (!trimmedDescription) {
+      setError("Board description is required.");
+      return;
+    }
 
     setError(null);
 
@@ -131,6 +140,7 @@ export default function NewBoardPage() {
       data: {
         name: trimmedName,
         slug: slugify(trimmedName),
+        description: trimmedDescription,
         gateway_id: resolvedGatewayId,
         board_group_id: boardGroupId === "none" ? null : boardGroupId,
       },
@@ -208,6 +218,19 @@ export default function NewBoardPage() {
               </p>
             </div>
           </div>
+
+          <div className="space-y-2">
+            <label className="text-sm font-medium text-slate-900">
+              Description <span className="text-red-500">*</span>
+            </label>
+            <Textarea
+              value={description}
+              onChange={(event) => setDescription(event.target.value)}
+              placeholder="What context should the lead agent know before onboarding?"
+              className="min-h-[120px]"
+              disabled={isLoading}
+            />
+          </div>
         </div>
 
         {gateways.length === 0 ? (
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/agents/AgentsTable.test.tsx b/frontend/src/components/agents/AgentsTable.test.tsx
index 2e06d3db..67011a2c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/agents/AgentsTable.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/agents/AgentsTable.test.tsx
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ const buildBoard = (overrides: Partial<BoardRead> = {}): BoardRead => ({
   id: "board-1",
   name: "Ops Board",
   slug: "ops-board",
+  description: "Operations board context.",
   organization_id: "org-1",
   created_at: "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z",
   updated_at: "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z",