Page 13 - Fall 2021 inLEAGUE with Historic Theatre Resource Guide/Allied Member Directory

Board Committees and operational issues that relate to finance
investments, capital acquisitions, personnel and
(continued from page 8) buildings. The Three BALBOA THEATRE
SAN DIEGO, CA
• Communications The external affairs committee deals with
• Investment all external things, including fundraising,
• Programs communications, media, public relations and Committee
• Compensation marketing.

The Trend Is a Three-Committee Model The three-committee model is gaining in
popularity because board members only need Concept
In an effort to streamline committee work, many to serve on one committee and there are
nonprofits are turning to an easy-to-manage fewer committee meetings to attend. It’s less
three-committee model. demanding of board members’ time and gives
them more time to focus on tasks other than
A three-committee model consists of a logistics. by David L Piana
governance committee, an internal affairs Boards tend to be frustrated with their
committee and an external affairs committee. In the quest for good board composition, committees, but often don’t know what to do
This model also allows for the formation of an good governance and increased productivity,
executive committee. committee structure makes an impactful about them. Use this article from consultant
David La Piana to kick off a common-sense
difference. If the current committee structure isn’t discussion and make the changes you know
Under this model, governance committees working, it’s time to restructure committee work you should be making!
recruit new members, hold orientations, create so that it makes a positive impact on the board
meeting materials and evaluate the board’s and the organization.
performance. Most nonprofit organizations have too many
board committees doing too little work. A
typical nonprofit has several committees, such
The internal affairs committee handles all internal
as Finance, Personnel, Development, and
of course an Executive Committee. Often,
when one committee malfunctions, the board
appoints another. For example, when the
Development Committee fails to raise funds,
the board may appoint a special Annual
Giving Committee to manage the yearly fund INTEGRATING
appeal. When none of this actually produces
any appreciable increase in donations, ORCHESTRA LIFT
the board may then charter a Major Gifts
Committee to go after big donors.
AND STAGE

Therefore, in most cases, nonprofits do better
by replacing this cumbersome structure with TECHNOLOGY
a simple three-committee structure consisting
of Internal Affairs, External Affairs, and MADE SIMPLE
Governance.

In addition, there should be an Executive
Committee consisting of Chairs from each
of the three committees and the Board NORTH AMERICA
President/Chair; however, this committee Tel: +1 760 738-5555
should not be allowed to take over the Toll free: 1 866 647-5046
decision-making function of the board as a galaamerica@galasystems.com
whole. CHRIS SHAW
Continued Next Page cshaw@galasystems.com