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What is a board committee supposed to do?

The role of the committee can be to prepare recommendations for the board, to decide that a matter doesn’t need to be addressed by the full board, to advise staff, and in some cases, to take on a significant project. An effective board committee should engage the board in strategic dialogue and help the board facilitate decision-making.

For example, a detailed review of the cash flow for the organization may be done by the Finance Committee, which then recommends to the board that a line of credit be established. Although the full board is responsible for the decision, board members rely on the diligence and thoughtfulness of the Finance Committee’s recommendations.  Or, the Fundraising Committee may develop a fundraising strategy that is brought to the board for approval.

Anyone on the board can object to a committee recommendation, and the board can still reject the plan or ask the committee to revise it. Over time, committees gain the confidence of the board by doing their work well and engaging the board when appropriate.

To ensure smooth committee functioning the full board annually should approve a committee job description and a set of prioritized goals for the committee. These two documents will set the parameters for the committee's work and serve to clarify the full board's buy-in to the committee's proposed work for the year.

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