Committees

The Board of Directors is traditionally composed of four types of committees; standing, executive, and other. The roles, structure, and function of each committee should be outlined within the organization's bylaws and/or mission statements. Committee members are held to the same degree of competency as board members and shall adhere to the same level of discipline.

Examples of standing committees headed by chairperson:

• Resource Acquisition
• Nominating
• Budget

Executive committees include:

• Chairperson
• Vice chairperson
• Treasurer
• Secretary
• Director

Examples of other committees:

• Recommendations
• Monetary policy
• Committees composed of non board members (task forces, advisory boards)

A committee is an excellent way to increase productivity among boards. Committees call upon knowledgeable and skilled board members who can serve as leaders by diving deeper into issues and brainstorm ways to improve services (Robinson 55).

When forming committees keep in mind:

• What will the committee be responsible for?
• What issues are to be addressed throughout the year?
• What specifically does the Board of Directors expect from each committee?
• What ideas or policies need to be updated?
• How have the client population and funding sources changed?

Always remember that committees  must be fully clear on their purpose and structure in order to be productive and useful to a nonprofit organization (Robinson 58). Committee members should be clear on what time frame(s) they are working with and given manageable deadlines. Keep in mind that having a positive and motivated chairperson will increase effectiveness. It is recommended that a chair person serve for one full year or until a specific task is achieved.