The Nonprofit FAQ

What is an advisory committee? How do we organize one?

Michael Wyland of Sumption & Wyland wrote in nonprofit (see http://www.rain.org/mailman/listinfo/nonprofit) on April 13, 2004: Typically, the Board of Directors is the governing board for the nonprofit, responsible for hiring, firing, and evaluating the ED/CEO, identifying vision, mission, and values, setting strategic direction, and monitoring progress toward goal attainment in accordance with the strategic plan. An advisory board is a committee or group without governing responsibility. They support the nonprofit's activities by providing information, resources, prestige (e.g., "letterhead" value), money, etc., to the nonprofit. Ideally, there should be a bright-line distinction between the advisory board and the governing board. Sumption & Wyland :: http://www.sumptionandwyland.com Free Management Library addresses guidelines about forming advisory committees. See http://www.mapnp.org/library/boards/boards.htm#anchor75998 Posted 1/19/00 -- CM; revised 4/13/04 -- PB