Board Committees 23@4 Series. Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 2

PAUL CLARKE NONPROFIT

RESOURCE CENTER

Board Committees

23@4 Series

Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 2

OBJECTIVES TODAY:

Committee Structure

Value & Threat

Steps to Creating

Advisory

Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center

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COMMITTEE STRUCTURE


4

Board Committees

COMMITTEES…

Part of board structure

Commissioned with specific charge

May be Permanent or Temporary


5

TASK FORCES

Established for Specific Objective

Generally Temporary

Drive Boards toward Real-time Results 6Paul Clarke Nonprofit

Resource Center

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VALUE OR THREAT

Board Committees


VALUE TO ORGANIZATION

Focused Work

Options Explored, Researched

Members use Expertise

Develop Leadership Skills


8

THREAT TO ORGANIZATION

Charged with Staff Functions

Micromanage

Focus Taken from Governance

Under-used=ApathyPaul Clarke Nonprofit

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CREATING COMMITTEES

Board Committees


CRUCIAL STEPS

Clear Purpose

Strong Leadership

Preset Meeting Schedule

Added ValuePaul Clarke Nonprofit

Resource Center 11

SHOULD-HAVES

Clear Statement of Purpose

Roles & Responsibilities

Defined (or restricted) Authority

Annual Objectives

Action Plan


12

ESSENTIAL STANDING COMMITTEES

Governance

Finance & Audit

Executive*

*Not necessarily


13

GOVERNANCE

Board Composition

Board Cultivation

Nomination

Orientation

Ongoing Training

Board AssessmentPaul Clarke Nonprofit

Resource Center14

FINANCE & AUDIT Due Diligence

Develops Budget

Monitors Finances

Establishes Internal controls

Ensures filing of 990


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EXECUTIVE*

Ask why it’s needed

Has specific purpose

Has full-board Authority


* Not needed by all organizations

DEVELOPMENT

Works with Board Chair

Includes the Development

Director

Develops Cultivation Strategies


COMMITTEE JOB DESCRIPTIONS

By Jan Masaoka

Governance Committees: Positive Trend on Nonprofit Boards

Board Committee Job Descriptions

Should Boards Have Committees, and if so, Which Ones?

Sample Job Descriptions for Board Officers


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ADVISORY BOARD


Board Committees

WHAT IS AN ADVISORY BOARD?

…a voluntary collection of individuals,

assembled to supplement the

governing board.


THE DIFFERENCE


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http://www.compasspoint.org/board-cafe/what-advisory-board-and-should-we-have-one

Advisory:• No legal or formal

responsibilities• Gives advice and

support

Board:• Legal & formal

responsibilities• Governing body


WRAP UP


WHAT MAKES THEM WORK*

Written description

Effective Chair

Thoughtful appointments

Accountability

Well-run meetings

Set meeting dates ahead

Objectives tied to calendar

Assess effectiveness

* See Slide 12


Disband current committees!

Start Over, based on current strategy

CONSIDER THIS…


BIBLIOGRAPHY Nonprofit Committees – Kit for Adults 658.048 N73

Structures & Practices of Nonprofit Boards, 2nd Edition by Charles F. Dambach, Melissa Davis & Robert Gale – 658.048 2009, v.6

Nonprofit Board Committees: How to Make them Work by Ellen Cochran Hirzy – 658.42 H61N

Transforming Board Structure: Strategies for Committees & Task Forces by Marla J. Bobowick, Sandra R. Hughes, and Berit M. Lakey – 658.422 B63T

Not-for-profit Audit Committee Best Practices by Warren Ruppell – 658. 45 R87N


ONLINE RESOURCES:

Management Help

Compass Point

BoardSource

GrantSpace

Laramie Board Learning Project

Blue Avocado

GuideStar

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THANK YOU!

Tomorrow you can find the PowerPoint presentation, with resources, on: www.pcnrc.org

http://www.pcnrc.org/

Documents

Board Committees 23@4 Series. Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 2