Potential Standing Committees
by Carter McNamara, PhD, Free Management Library, www.managementhelp.org
The following chart highlights typical standing board committees, i.e., committees that exist year-round, and the general functions they fulfill. The list is not meant to suggest that all these committees should exist; it is up to the organization to determine which committees to set-up and what they should do.
The following descriptions are intended to portray various functions often conducted by standing board committees, i.e., committees that exist year round. Note that the following list is not intended to suggest that all of these committees should exist; it's ultimately up to the organization to determine which committees should exist and what they should do.
Potential Standing Committees | Their Typical Roles |
| Board Development | Ensure effective board processes, structures and roles, including retreat planning, committee development, and board evaluation; sometimes includes role of nominating committee, such as keeping list of potential board members, orientation and training |
| Evaluation | Ensures sound evaluation of products/services/programs, including, e.g., outcomes, goals, data, analysis and resulting adjustments |
| Executive | Oversee operations of the board; often acts on behalf of the board during on-demand activities that occur between meetings, and these acts are later presented for full board review; comprised of board chair, other officers and/or committee chairs (or sometimes just the officers, although this might be too small); often performs evaluation of chief executive |
| Finance | Oversees development of the budget; ensures accurate tracking/monitoring/accountability for funds; ensures adequate financial controls; often led by the board treasurer; reviews major grants and associated terms |
| Fundraising | Oversees development and implementation of the Fundraising Plan; identifies and solicits funds from external sources of support, working with the Development Officer if available; sometimes called Development Committee |
| Marketing | Oversees development and implementation of the Marketing Plan, including identifying potential markets, their needs, how to meet those needs with products/services/programs, and how to promote/sell the programs |
| Personnel | Guides development, review and authorization of personnel policies and procedures; sometimes leads evaluation of the chief Executive; sometimes assists chief executive with leadership and management matters |
| Product / Program Development | Guides development of service delivery mechanisms; may include evaluation of the services; link between the board and the staff on program's activities |
| Promotions and Sales | Promotes organization's services to the community, including generating fees for those services |
| Public Relations | Represents the organization to the community; enhances the organization's image, including communications with the press |