An executive committee can be beneficial for nonprofits who need to finish their work quickly and efficiently. However, some boards may struggle to decide between an executive committee and a board of directors.
The executive committee is comprised of members who are responsible for addressing urgent issues and act as the board’s ears and eyes in between meetings. Typically, they’re comprised of three to seven members.
Typically the executive committee is comprised of the chairperson and vice-chairperson along with secretary. The role of the chairperson is to guide the committee and serve as the voice of the board. The vice-chairperson is a support person for the chairperson and also can be their replacement if necessary. The secretary keeps the minutes of meetings, a calendar for the committee and makes sure that all members have access committee documents.
Although the executive committee is a subcommittee of the board, it still has the power to run the business. King advises boards to carefully consider delegating functions to an executive panel, to avoid creating a threatening”two-tier” power dynamics where the executive committee is given decision-making authority that, according to statute or the constitution are the responsibility of the board.
An executive committee can be helpful for a nonprofit particularly when it’s not feasible for the board to meet in person at short notice to address urgent issues. The executive committee can provide an opportunity for those who are close to the organization via their leadership, to make crucial decisions in key areas like high-level workplace issues, organizational oversight and development of the board.