Creating a Board Committee Charter [Tips + Template]

A board committee charter needs to be clearly organized to make it easy to understand. It should contain an overview of the purpose of the committee, as well as information on election and rotation requirements, member duties and responsibilities, and reporting requirements. Below are some key items to include in a board committee charter:

1. Mission Statement

Your mission statement explains the purpose of the committee to current and potential members. This should be a clear statement of why you chose to create the committee, and how this will enable you to achieve your goals for the upcoming year.

2. Type of Committee and Area of the Program

The committee charter should state whether this is a standing or ad hoc committee. If you are creating a standing committee, it should also indicate the areas of focus for the committee.

3. Membership

The committee charter should include information about the election and rotation requirements for board members. It should also state whether a quorum is required for a meeting.

This section should describe the process for selecting members on the committee. It should include information on how to nominate a member and whether it’s mandatory to select an even number of members.

4. Chairmanship

The committee charter should specify the duties of the chair. It should also state whether there are any special requirements for serving as the chairperson.

This section of the committee charter should include information about the Chairman, 1st Vice-Chair, and 2nd Vice-Chair, as well as a provision for how these positions are elected.

5. Authority

This section of the committee charter should outline the authority and scope of the committee as well as how decisions will be made and how any disputes will be resolved. It should include information on what operations can be delegated to this committee and whether the committee has decision-making power.

This section should state how often members need to attend meetings, and list any meetings that require a physical presence at a specific time and location.

6. Responsibilities

This section should outline the specific duties and responsibilities of each committee member. It’s a good idea to include details on who will be responsible for chairing important meetings and what information you expect to be reported to the board. 

This section should contain information about how you expect this committee to fulfill its duties. You may want to describe how often members need to report, who will host or facilitate meetings, and what types of materials are expected from members.

7. Standard Committee Procedures

Standard procedures should make it clear which committee members are responsible for specific tasks. It should also specify how materials will be submitted, shared, and reviewed by the individual members and the full committee.

8. Termination of Membership

This section should clarify whether a member can be removed from the committee as well as who can initiate this process. It may also indicate whether there’s an appeal process if a member feels they’ve been unjustly removed from the committee.