Wouldn’t your job as an Executive Director be easier if your Board were enthusiastic ambassadors for your agency? Your goal is to turn your Board into reliable cheerleaders. Through strong personal relationships and a strong Board committees you can make that a reality.
To get your Board to do their job (i.e. raise funds, set strategic direction, monitor agency performance, annually evaluate your work performance) they need to understand your mission, feel connected to the Board and be informed of the issues.
The Value of Board Committees
The Board works best when it has committees with specific tasks assigned to them. Creating committees which focus the work of its members and meet the needs of the agency is a proven approach to effective Board functioning.
Committees help develop specific expertise and increase the efficiency of full Board meetings as issues have already been vetted by a smaller informed group.
When things are working well, a committee will bring to the full Board a summary of the work they have done with recommendations for Board action rather than rehashing an issue with a full group do know all the details.
Board committee groom leaders and create deeper relationships to grow between members. Committees give members a chance to gain expertise in a specific area which increases their level of commitment to your agency.
Here is how to set up an awesome Board committee structure.
1. Engage Your Board Members
- Mission Alignment: Ensure that your board members are deeply engaged in your mission. When they are passionate about your cause, they are more likely to raise funds, set strategic directions, and monitor agency performance effectively.
- Strong Personal Relationships: Build strong relationships with board members. When they feel connected to you and the board, they are more likely to stay committed and enthusiastic about their roles.
What are the ‘Right’ Board Committees ?
Trick questions! There is really no one right answer as a Board committee structure should come from the needs of your organization.
You need enough committees to address the priority issues facing the organization but not so many that members are stretched too thin and stop attending. Typical Nonprofit Board committees are:
- Executive Committee: Handles prioritization, sensitive matters, and acts on behalf of the board between meetings.
- Fundraising Committee: Manages fundraising activities, board participation in fundraising, sponsorships, and donor appreciation.
- Finance Committee: Oversees financial management, including budgeting, audits, and investments.
- Governance and Nominating Committee: Focuses on board recruitment, strategic planning, and executive director evaluation.
- Communications and Public Relations Committee: Manages media relations, newsletters, and public statements.
- Program Committee: Monitors service delivery, evaluates new initiatives, and explores partnerships.
- If your board is smaller, consider a three-committee structure:
1. Governance Committee: Handles recruitment, orientation, meeting materials, and executive evaluation.
2. Internal Affairs Committee: Manages internal operations like finance, investments, and personnel.
3. External Affairs Committee: Oversees external relations including fundraising, media, and marketing.
4 Characteristics of Strong Nonprofit Board Committees
There are four basic elements of effective, productive committees
1. Curated Nonprofit Committee Membership
As with the full Board, committees should be populated with a diversity of backgrounds, viewpoints and expertise.
All too often Board members are placed on a committee because it ‘needs people’. Asking members to serve on a committee should be made in consideration of their backgrounds, skills and interest.Committee members should have knowledge about that area or are interested in learning about it.
It is also wise to look at the personalities on the committee. You do not want to have all the strong personalities in one committee. You want a balance of introverts and extraverts and at least one member who demonstrates their commitment to soliciting and including everyone’s opinions.
As the Executive Director you should work with your Board chair to develop a curated committee membership.
2.Strong Committee Chair
A strong committee chair is not a bully or a blow hard. They have a clear role to keep things moving smoothly. The committee chair’s role is to:
- make sure everyone understands the task before them,
- prepare clear agendas,
- keep meetings on track,
- communicate often with their members,
- solicits committee members’ input and,
- set a tone of mutual accountability.
They are skilled, focused diplomats who make sure everyone knows the expectations and helps them access resources for their success. You can support your Committee chair’s success by being available to brainstorm ideas, monitor the work and meet their valid requests for assistance.
3. Clear Committee Goals
At the beginning of each year, committees should set specific, measurable goals and develop a work plan. This plan should identify the things they need to get done, the timeframes and clear assignments for each member.Clear objectives help keep the committee focused and productive.
You can support committee chairs by helping them set clear goals and expectations. This might involve providing templates for committee reports, facilitating access to necessary resources, and offering guidance on best practices.
4. Opportunities to Contribute
People feel connected when they can contribute.
Committees must build in ways for everyone to have something specific to do. Members should not just passively be talked to during meetings. Assigning clear tasks which they can accomplish will build pride and commitment among your Board.
By focusing on these elements, you can create a nonprofit board structure that not only supports your agency’s goals but also fosters a strong, committed board that works cohesively towards your mission.
If you need further guidance, consider scheduling a board-focused strategy session to think through a Board committee structure for your agency.