Board Committees Series

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 Committee Structure  Value & Threat  Steps to Creating  Advisory Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 3

Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 4 Board Committees

 Part of board structure  Commissioned with specific charge  May be Permanent or Temporary Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 5

 Established for Specific Objective  Generally Temporary  Drive Boards toward Real-time Results 6 Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center

Board Committees Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 7

 Focused Work  Options Explored, Researched  Members use Expertise  Develop Leadership Skills Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 8

 Charged with Staff Functions  Micromanage  Focus Taken from Governance  Under-used=Apathy Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 9

Board Committees Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 10

 Clear Purpose  Strong Leadership  Preset Meeting Schedule  Added Value Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 11

 Clear Statement of Purpose  Roles & Responsibilities  Defined (or restricted) Authority  Annual Objectives  Action Plan Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 12

 Governance  Finance & Audit  Executive* *Not necessarily Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 13

 Board Composition  Board Cultivation  Nomination  Orientation  Ongoing Training  Board Assessment Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 14

 Due Diligence  Develops Budget  Monitors Finances  Establishes Internal controls  Ensures filing of 990 Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 15

 Ask why it’s needed  Has specific purpose  Has full-board Authority Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 16 * Not needed by all organizations

 Works with Board Chair  Includes the Development Director  Develops Cultivation Strategies Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 17

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 Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 18

Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 19 Board Committees

…a voluntary collection of individuals, assembled to supplement the governing board. Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 20

Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 21 advisory-board-and-should-we-have-one Advisory: No legal or formal responsibilities Gives advice and support Board: Legal & formal responsibilities Governing body

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 Written description  Effective Chair  Thoughtful appointments  Accountability  Well-run meetings  Set meeting dates ahead  Objectives tied to calendar  Assess effectiveness Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 23 * See Slide 12

 Disband current committees!  Start Over, based on current strategy Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 24

Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 25  Nonprofit Committees – Kit for Adults N73  Structures & Practices of Nonprofit Boards, 2 nd Edition by Charles F. Dambach, Melissa Davis & Robert Gale – , v.6  Nonprofit Board Committees: How to Make them Work by Ellen Cochran Hirzy – H61N  Transforming Board Structure: Strategies for Committees & Task Forces by Marla J. Bobowick, Sandra R. Hughes, and Berit M. Lakey – B63T  Not-for-profit Audit Committee Best Practices by Warren Ruppell – R87N

 Management Help  Compass Point  BoardSource  GrantSpace  Laramie Board Learning Project  Blue Avocado  GuideStar Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 26

Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center 27 Tomorrow you can find the PowerPoint presentation, with resources, on: