How to be a better board member. This new page at Volunteer Today focuses on governance, policy-making and advisory volunteers. Its purpose is to help all of those who work with or serve on nonprofit boards of directors or committees. This page will discuss boards of directors, advisory councils and committees. I hope it will help those reading it to have my operating definitions of these important groups of volunteers.
Committees can be ad-hoc or standing.
Board-appointed committees make recommendations to the board for their consideration. They are usually composed of members of the board of directors with a staff liaison and may include people who are not members of the board who have specific expertise and interest in the area to be considered. An advisory council is an optional committee that can advise the board or staff on specific issues. While not binding, their advice represents points of view that can be very helpful in broadening perspective and sparking innovative ideas. Members of advisory councils are rarely board members, though sometimes a single board member who is particularly interested in the issue will serve as a liaison with the board.