An executive committee is a great option for nonprofits who need to complete their tasks quickly and efficiently. Some boards may have difficulty defining the distinction between an executive board and a board.
The executive committee is made up of members who handle urgent issues and act as the board’s ears and eyes in between meetings. They usually consist of three to seven members.
Typically, the executive committee has an executive chairperson and vice-chairperson and an administrator. The chairperson’s job is to represent your board and to lead the committee. The vice-chairperson assists the chairperson in their duties and can also fill in should they need to. The secretary records meeting minutes anonymous and maintains a calendar for the committee and ensures that all committee members have access to documents of the committee.
The executive committee is a part of the board but still has the authority to oversee the business. King advises that a board must carefully consider the delegation of its duties to an executive committee to ensure that it doesn’t result in an unwelcome „two-tier” power situation in which the committee has the power to make decisions which, as per the constitution or law, are properly the responsibility of the board.
Having an executive committee can be beneficial for a non-profit particularly in situations where it’s not practical or possible for the board to meet in person at short notice to discuss urgent issues. The executive committee gives leaders who are closely associated with the organization through their leadership position a platform to take important decisions regarding top-level workplace issues, organisational oversight, and development of the board.