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A committee without a charter drifts into either doing nothing or doing the board's job for it. A one-page charter fixes both: it says what the committee is for, what it can decide on its own, who sits on it, and how it reports back. Write one for each standing committee and review them yearly.
The most important line in a charter is what the committee can and cannot decide. Most board committees are advisory — they do the detailed work and bring recommendations to the full board, which decides. Some, like an executive committee, may hold delegated authority to act between meetings within limits. Spell this out, because an unclear mandate is how committees either overstep or stall.
State how many members, who appoints them (usually the board chair), whether non-directors or staff serve, and who chairs it. Set a meeting cadence and a quorum. A committee that meets "as needed" usually meets never; give it a rhythm tied to the board's calendar.
Every committee should report to the full board on a defined schedule — often via a short written update on the consent agenda, with live time only when there's a decision to bring. Build a yearly charter review into the governance committee's calendar so charters stay current as the organization changes.
COMMITTEE CHARTER [Organization name] · [Committee name] Adopted: [date] · Last reviewed: [date] 1. PURPOSE [One or two sentences on why this committee exists and what it is responsible for — e.g. "The Finance Committee oversees the organization's financial health, recommends the annual budget, and oversees the independent audit."] 2. AUTHORITY This committee is [advisory to the board / delegated authority to act within the following limits: ______]. It makes recommendations to the full board, which retains decision-making authority except as expressly delegated here. 3. RESPONSIBILITIES - [Responsibility 1] - [Responsibility 2] - [Responsibility 3] 4. MEMBERSHIP - Size: [# members] - Appointed by: [board chair / board] - Chair: [how the chair is selected] - May include non-directors / staff: [yes / no — specify] - Term: [length] 5. MEETINGS - Cadence: [e.g. quarterly, aligned to the board calendar] - Quorum: [# or majority] - Minutes kept: [yes] 6. REPORTING Reports to the board [cadence], via [written report on the consent agenda / presentation], and brings decisions requiring board approval as motions. 7. REVIEW This charter is reviewed annually by the [Governance Committee / board].
Nonprofit Liaison builds the agenda, assembles the packet, and drafts the minutes for you — so the template becomes the workflow.