Guide
Committee charter template, and how to run committees well.
A charter tells a committee what it's for and what it can decide. Here is what a charter covers, the committees most associations have, a template to copy, and how to keep committees running from one year to the next.
Updated
What a charter covers
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Why the committee exists, in one or two sentences |
| Authority | What it can decide on its own, and what it only recommends to the board |
| Membership | How many members, who appoints them, and any seats reserved for staff or the board |
| Terms | How long members and the chair serve, and how many terms in a row |
| Meetings | How often it meets, what counts as a quorum, and how decisions are made |
| Responsibilities | The specific work it owns, as a list |
| Reporting | What it reports to the board, and when |
| Budget | Any budget it controls, and who approves spending |
| Review | When the board reviews the charter |
The template
Replace everything in [brackets] and delete what doesn't apply. Keep it to two pages.
Committee charter template
[COMMITTEE NAME] CHARTER [Organization name] · Approved by the board on [date] 1. PURPOSE The [committee name] exists to [one or two sentences]. 2. AUTHORITY The committee may [decisions it can make on its own]. It recommends to the board on [matters the board decides]. It may not [limits, for example: commit funds above $[amount] or speak for the organization publicly]. 3. MEMBERSHIP The committee has [number] members, appointed by [the president / the board] for [length]-year terms, with no more than [number] terms in a row. It includes [any reserved seats, for example: the treasurer, one staff member, one student member]. The chair is appointed by [who] for a [length]-year term. 4. MEETINGS The committee meets at least [frequency], in person or online. A quorum is [number or majority] of its members. Decisions are made by [majority vote / consensus], and minutes are kept for every meeting. 5. RESPONSIBILITIES - [Responsibility 1] - [Responsibility 2] - [Responsibility 3] 6. REPORTING The chair reports to the board [frequency], and gives a written annual report by [date]. 7. BUDGET The committee manages [its budget line / no budget]. Spending over $[amount] needs [approval]. 8. REVIEW The board reviews this charter every [number] years, or sooner if the committee's work changes.
The committees most associations have
| Committee | What it does |
|---|---|
| Executive | Acts for the board between meetings, within limits the bylaws set |
| Finance and audit | Budget, financial reports, the audit and investment policy |
| Governance and nominating | Board recruitment, elections, bylaws and board evaluation |
| Membership | Recruitment, retention, member benefits and dues recommendations |
| Programs and events | The calendar of events and the annual meeting or conference |
| Education | Courses, CE credits and certification requirements |
| Government affairs | Positions on legislation and advocacy |
| Awards | Award criteria, nominations and selection |
Running committees well
- Keep a roster with each member’s role and the date their term ends, and plan replacements before seats go empty.
- Send the agenda and papers a few days before each meeting, and the minutes within a week.
- Keep minutes, drafts and files in one place the committee can reach, not in one person’s inbox.
- Hand over properly: a new chair should get the charter, last year’s report, open items and the files.
- Thank members when they rotate off, and ask whether they’d serve on something else.
In FullRoster, every board, committee and interest group has a roster with roles and titles, term dates with a reminder before they end, an email list, and a folder only that group can open.
For the board itself, see whether you need a board portal. Committees are also one of the best ways to keep members involved; more ideas are in member engagement strategies.
Common questions
- What is a committee charter?
- A short document, approved by the board, that sets out a committee’s purpose, authority, membership, terms, meetings, responsibilities and reporting. It tells members what they are there to do and what they can decide.
- What should a committee charter include?
- Purpose, authority, membership and how members are appointed, terms, meetings and quorum, responsibilities, reporting to the board, any budget, and when the charter will be reviewed.
- What committees does an association need?
- Most have finance, governance or nominating, and membership committees, plus committees for events, education, government affairs or awards depending on their work. Some also have an executive committee that acts for the board between meetings.
- How long should committee terms be?
- Commonly two or three years, staggered so not everyone rotates off at once, with a limit on consecutive terms so new members get a turn.
- Who approves a committee charter?
- Usually the board, unless the bylaws say otherwise. The board should also review it every few years.
About FullRoster. FullRoster is association management software that's free for up to 1,000 active members. Members, dues, events, email, courses and payments in one place, and we move your data over for you. See how it works →
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Rosters, terms and files for every committee.
FullRoster keeps every board and committee with its roster, roles, terms and a shared folder. It's free for up to 1,000 active members.