Greater Governance | Building Strong Committees
Committees are the engine of the board. They’re where the real work gets done, where strategy moves forward, and where board members find meaningful ways to contribute. However, without a clear purpose, the right people, and structured process, committees stall out. They become “committees in name only”: meeting infrequently, lacking direction, duplicating staff work, and draining the energy of your board members.
Here are some practical ways to keep your committees running strong:
Clear Purpose
Charters. Develop a Committee Charter that defines scope, responsibilities, authority, and key deadlines or projects. Review every few years.
Committee Workplans. Each committee should set 2–5 SMART goals annually, aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities. The Board Chair can then integrate these into a unified board workplan. Chairs should report on progress throughout the year.
Task Forces. Not everything needs a standing committee. Create task forces for short-term projects or emerging issues. Build in an end day.
Refresh. Revisit committee structure annually. Are these the right committees for the organization’s current strategy and challenges?
Strong People
Committee Leadership. Select a Chair who is both organized and collaborative. Consider a co-chair model for shared leadership and built-in succession.
Senior Leadership Partnership. Assign a staff partner to each committee to help keep the committee aligned and provide contextual insight... but clarify their role is support and perspective, not “doing the work.” This also creates valuable exposure for senior staff, strengthening relationships downline.
Executive Rotation. Have the CEO and Board Chair rotate as occasional guests. They cannot sit on every committee, but rotating helps connect the dots across the board’s work.
New Member Tour. Give new board members six months to rotate through committees of interest before choosing a permanent placement. All board members should serve on at least one committee.
Effective Process
Provide the tools. Provide templates for minutes and action items across committees. Offer simple guidance on effective minutes (e.g., decisions and actions matter—who said what does not).
Improving Reporting in the Boardroom. Ask committees to submit written reports before board meetings, so boardroom time is focused on discussion and decision-making, not recaps.
Self Assessment. Alongside the board’s annual self-evaluation, each committee should assess its own effectiveness. Are we meeting our goals? Are we adding value? What can we improve?
Reassign. Build in opportunity for board members to switch committees every 1-2 years. Yes this takes more work, but it also ensures board members are engaged in the areas that interest them most.
Strong committees don’t happen by accident. They need an intentionally designed structure, clarity around tasks, and a little ongoing care by leadership. When committees are well-led, well-aligned, and accountable, they become the engine that drives the board’s work forward. And when that engine is running smoothly, the whole organization benefits.