Executive Committee Vs Board of Directors

The presence of an executive committee can be beneficial for non-profits that require work to be completed quickly and efficiently. However, some boards might be confused between an executive committee and a board of directors.

The executive committee is comprised of board members who act as the board’s eyes and ears during meetings and are responsible to handle urgent issues. They usually consist of 3-7 members.

Typically the executive committee is comprised of an executive chairperson and vice-chairperson as well as secretary. The chairperson’s role is to lead the committee and be the voice of the board. The vice-chairperson assists the chairperson with their duties and may also serve as a substitute when needed. The secretary records meeting minutes and maintains a calendar of committee meetings and ensures that all members have access to committee documents.

Although the executive committee is a subcommittee within the board, it still has the ultimate authority to oversee the company. King suggests that boards carefully consider delegating certain functions to an executive panel to avoid creating an unwelcome”two-tier” power structure where the committee has decision-making power that, according to statute or the constitution belong to the board.

An executive committee can be beneficial for a non-profit, especially in cases where it’s not feasible for the board of directors to meet in person on short notice to discuss urgent issues. The executive committee gives the leaders who are connected to the organization via their leadership a platform to make crucial decisions in areas like high-level workplace data breaches issues, organizational oversight, and Board development.