An executive committee is a group of board members with close relationships with the leadership team and meet to discuss issues that affect the business. They make decisions for the entire board and establish the direction for the organization’s strategic plan. They also serve as a bridge between the board of directors and the CEO. An executive committee is an excellent solution for companies which have a lot of routine issues need immediate action on critical issues or don’t want to wait until the entire board can meet.
An effective executive committee should include senior executives and other leaders from other committees. The Chairperson of the Board is typically also an executive committee. They are in charge of setting the agenda of the committee and ensure that all committee and board actions are in line with goals of the business. The person appointed by the committee will also be the committee chairs and serve as the board spokesperson. The number of people on the executive committee will vary between organizations. The bylaws of the board should clearly define who is on the committee. Research suggests that a seven-member committee is the ideal size for making the best decisions.
The executive committee is responsible of establishing governance policies and click for more taking strategic decisions at a high level and providing oversight to management. They also take the responsibility for training of board members and development. Based on the size of the committee, they may meet quarterly, monthly or on an as-needed basis.
Although an executive committee is an excellent tool for a lot of nonprofits, it’s definitely not an all-inclusive way to govern board members. If your board isn’t large or you have a robust board of directors that operates efficiently without an executive committee, you may find that this type of structure isn’t necessary for your particular organization.