Following the template provided on the CD, there is language in the by-laws that enables the board of directors to create committees that would help them do their work. Include some form of this language, even if the notion of also establishing committees at the early stage of the organization may not seem necessary.

Committees may be proposed at any time and for any reason that the board feels they need more help to carry out their work. Committees may be proposed with a limited life span, such as to investigate and secure a real-estate purchase, or to hire an executive director; that is, the committee only exists until it has completed its work and made its final report to the board.

Nominating Committee

Depending on how you have structured other parts of the organization, you may want to have a nominating committee. The sole purpose would be to bring potential board members to a vote of the membership. One advantage is that such a committee would have a high level of independence to solicit potential board candidates, to interview them well out of the public eye in order to avoid embarrassment if they are not proposed as candidates, and most important, to be able to vet the individual completely before presenting her to the board and/or the community.

Advisory Committee

Establishing an advisory committee is an excellent way to bring on board highly respected members of the community who support your mission but are too busy to commit to specific tasks. Advisory committee members are usually brought in through a personal invitation of a board member. They agree to be available to offer advice in their particular area of expertise, as well as open up their respective networks for periodic outreach and solicitations.

It is not too early, even in the early formative stage, to begin thinking about who you would approach about joining the advisory committee. If personal relationships already exist between people in your organization and prospective advisory committee members, then you're well ahead of the game. If you decide to approach someone you do not know, determine where your networks and that person's networks intersect and approach her from that point. Keep in mind that well-known people are asked to lend their name and support to worthwhile organizations all the time. Carefully plan how to present yourself and the group in order to give yourself the best chance of creating a strong, respected advisory committee.

Other Committees

The specifics of your group's mission and operation will determine which committees may be helpful. If the group owns or rents property, a committee to oversee that element might be helpful. If there is staff, or even plans to bring on paid staff, a personnel committee will help considerably. Likewise if there are ongoing legal issues, a legal committee will allow the board to obtain the best possible advice prior to making any decisions.