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Committees allow for detailed planning and evaluation work to be performed by a smaller group of subject matter experts that reports to the full board on their findings and recommendations. Using committees in the right way can be a very effective tool for boards to work efficiently and productively.

A strong board knows when to table a complex issue for review by committee rather than trying to resolve or develop the issue at a regular board meeting. In this manner, the committee structure plays a major part in the board's strategy to manage time, make board meetings productive, and create a more efficient use of volunteers' time and energy.

A board committee's primary responsibility is to recommend policy to the full board. Committees are normally chaired by a board member and need to have at least two people but not so many that it bogs down its ability to complete its specific responsibilities in a timely manner. Some organizations include non-board members on their committees. This is a good practice to help bolster expertise and accomplish the task at hand.

The resources below outline the different types of committees and their primary functions. There is a trend to minimize the use of standing committees, and in their place, build ad hoc committees to deal with strategic priorities each year.

Resources

1. BoardDevelopment.org: Types of Committees
2. Board Development.org: Characteristics of Effective Committees
3. BlueAvocado.org: Abolish Standing Committees?
4. CompassPoint's Board Cafe: Rising Trend in Governance Committees