How Nonprofits Can Create Standing and Ad Hoc Committees to Maximize Their Impact

Committees effectively allow nonprofit board members to manage their responsibilities and accomplish organizational goals. By strategically leveraging the expertise and resources of board members, staff, and volunteers, nonprofits can use standing and ad hoc committees to maximize their impact.

Committees allow board members to streamline their efforts into high-value, actionable outcomes based on clearly defined operational focus areas. Most of a nonprofit board’s work is accomplished through influential standing committees, with the occasional implementation of ad-hoc committees. 

After working with hundreds of nonprofits, we’ve created a template to help you avoid any pitfalls when creating committees by clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of both standing and ad hoc committees.

In this blog post, we will define what standing and ad hoc committees are, the difference between them, and how nonprofit leaders can leverage them to maximize their impact.

What Are Standing Committees?
Standing committees are long-term or permanent committees established by an organization's board of directors to oversee specific areas of the organization's operations. These committees make recommendations and take action related to their respective focus areas. They are typically composed of board members and sometimes other volunteers or staff members with expertise in the relevant area. Nonprofit standing committees are essential in ensuring that the organization's operations are effective, efficient, and aligned with the organization's mission and goals.

Some examples of nonprofit standing committees include:
1. Finance Committee: This committee oversees the organization's financial operations, including budgeting, financial reporting, and financial policies.

2. Governance Committee: This committee oversees the organization's governance practices, including board recruitment, board member orientation and training, and board performance evaluation.

3. Fundraising Committee: This committee oversees the organization's fundraising efforts, including developing strategies, identifying potential donors, and planning fundraising events.

4. Program Committee: This committee determines the organization's programs and services, including program development, implementation, and evaluation.

5. Marketing and Communications Committee: This committee oversees the organization's marketing and communication efforts, including developing marketing strategies, managing social media and other communication channels, and promoting the organization's mission and activities.

What Are Ad Hoc Committees?
Ad hoc committees are short-term or temporary committees established by a nonprofit's board of directors to address specific issues or projects that require attention outside the normal scope. Ad hoc committees are typically dissolved once their task is completed. These committees play an essential role in addressing specific issues or opportunities that arise. When a nonprofit is experiencing a significant change or growth, it may be helpful to establish Ad hoc committees. 

Some common examples of nonprofit ad hoc committees include:
1. Strategic Planning Committee: This committee develops the organization's strategic plan, which outlines the organization's goals, objectives, and priorities over a specific period.

2. Search Committee: This committee is formed to recruit and select a new executive director or key staff member.

3. Special Event Committee: This committee oversees the planning and execution of a specific fundraising or other event.

4. Policy Review Committee: This committee reviews and updates the organization's policies and procedures.

5. Task Force: This committee addresses a specific issue or problem the organization faces, such as a crisis or a new opportunity.

Writing Standing Committees Into Nonprofit Bylaws
Once you've created committees for your nonprofit, you'll need to write them into your bylaws. We suggest you keep information in the bylaws at a high level and reserve more detailed descriptions of roles and responsibilities for your committee charters. This will allow you to revise and respond quickly when changes in committee roles arise. Every state's laws vary on committee functioning, so research your state's requirements beforehand. 

Every nonprofit evolves along with its mission, vision, and scope of service. Nonprofits should regularly re-evaluate their committees to ensure they achieve their objectives and progress toward their organization's goals. 

By effectively leveraging committees, nonprofits can tap into their stakeholders' diverse skills, perspectives, and resources to achieve a more significant impact and advance their mission.

Ready to take charge and create your nonprofit's committees? Sign in to the Resilia Nonprofit Platform to download our template and get started. Don't have an account yet? Sign up today!