Board Development Committee: Purpose, Roles & 10 Key Tasks

A board development committee is a specialized team within a board tasked with developing board members to meet the organization’s governance needs. Its core purpose is to ensure the board remains strong and aligned with mission goals.

And the importance of such a committee is hard to underestimate. According to PwC, 88% of board members agree that there’s at least one action that should be taken to improve board effectiveness. And, more importantly, 45% state that any additional education or board training should be enrolled in to enhance the board’s strength. 

This article explains the concept of a board development committee, describes its key tasks, and suggests the components of an effective board.

Highlights:

• The purpose of a board development committee is to build a skilled, diverse, and engaged board that supports the organization’s mission.
• The key tasks of a board development committee include teamwork, risk management, strategic planning, leadership development, cybersecurity, and more.
• Effective committees focus on recruiting, training, and mentoring board members while ensuring transparency and strong governance.
• In nonprofits, the committee also leads fundraising, donor engagement, and community outreach initiatives.

Successful boards use board management tools and development plan templates to stay organized, track goals, and enhance collaboration.

What is a board development committee?

A board development committee, also known as a governance committee, is a part of a corporate organization with a goal to ensure the excellent performance of all company operations.

The main purpose of a board development committee is to ensure the board has the right mix of board member skills, diversity, and engagement to effectively guide the organization and fulfill its mission.

Among the responsibilities are:

• providing shareholders with timely and accurate financial reports
• incorporating new board systems into the operations
• recruiting and electing new board members
• monitoring the implementation of work plans

Development committees act as a tool that takes care of organizational and monitoring aspects. This way, the rest of the board members can focus on other, no less important, tasks.

10 key tasks of a board development committee

Development is not a straight line but a vector. And just like a compass, a board development committee chooses direction, or areas, for company improvement. 

To understand what areas of board development are in focus, let’s look into the main 10 tasks of a board committee.

1. Teamwork. A company is always about people standing behind it and turning their knowledge and expertise into results. Their efficient collaboration brings new ideas to the organization and ensures the success of their work. That’s why the development committees are the ones who fill vacancies for qualified team and board members who can contribute to the company. Additionally, development committees also conduct team meetings, where employees can improve their professional and social skills.
2. Risk management. Organizations must assess the risks they might face in different departments. The board development committee should identify the existing and future risks in achieving the company’s strategy and the implementation of the annual business plan.
3. Strategic planning. This area is about the analysis of strengths, weaknesses, market opportunities, and threats (SWOT). It also includes the assessment of demand and customer satisfaction. Based on the data gathered, the board development committee works to further the company’s development strategy that leads to the successful implementation of its mission.
4. Board leadership. The development committee also evaluates the potential board members. In this area, its main task is to improve the processes of nominating and selecting new candidates. The committee also provides future members with training, mentoring, and guidance to meet the board’s criteria. 
5. Cybersecurity. Global cybercrime costs are expected to reach $10.3 trillion by the end of 2025. This makes cybersecurity one of the top priorities for businesses. The development committee always looks for secure ways of storing and sharing information between board members and shareholders. For example, it’s on the lookout for efficient board software that provides desirable security.
6. Corporate culture. Development committees should identify the desired corporate culture and discuss and promote it among team members. Once promoted, the committee keeps an eye on its implementation. An effective way of doing this is by conducting meetings for staff members to improve the company’s morale and culture. Moreover, the committee can occasionally survey the employees to get feedback on the current state of culture.
7. Conflict management. Potential drivers of conflicts may include the director’s behavior, audit conclusions, unclear roles and responsibilities, etc. To avoid disagreements, the board of directors should clearly define roles and duties, develop a comprehensive charter for a committee, appoint a chair for dispute settlement, and create resolution techniques.
8. Board diversity. The diversified board contributes to more efficient use of the talent pool with its broader range of attributes and more fruitful decision-making by eliminating “groupthink.” It’s essential to include the individual’s technical knowledge and life experience as part of the selection criteria, combat implicit bias in the hiring process, create an atmosphere conducive to new ideas in a team, and avoid tokenism.
9. Facilitation skills. The value of a facilitator’s skills lies in keeping members engaged, doing good planning, and creating opportunities for leadership in the company. So, your job as a facilitator is to create an environment where everyone is heard, not criticized, and feels good about their contributions to the meeting.
10. Effective communication. Effective communication between directors eliminates disagreements and their negative consequences. To strengthen relationships, leaders commonly align boards with executive teams and keep all board members well-informed for improved decision-making. Furthermore, they establish accountability so that everyone understands their responsibilities. Boards often use board management software to enhance corporate communication and manage the development committee of the board.

Who should serve on your board development committee?

The golden rule you should remember is that the ideal development committee members have expertise in non-profit fundraising.

When thinking of whom to appoint as a board development committee member, consider this core selection criterion:

• Proven experience in fundraising or donor relations
• Understanding of governance principles and board dynamics
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Commitment to the organization’s mission and values
• Ability to mentor, inspire, and build collaboration among board members

So, choose professionals who can create and implement a reliable fundraising plan. These individuals should also mentor and encourage other trustees to contribute.

The committee chair, in turn, should have experience in motivating others to act in the name of the organization’s mission and in-depth knowledge of board strategies that work.

Qualities of effective members 

The personal qualities of board members directly affect the success of any board’s activities. Therefore, it’s vital to prepare a detailed development committee job description while searching for new members.

Logically, the qualities needed for a board development committee for nonprofit and corporate boards differ. Still, there are always some universal qualities that are mandatory for any development committee. 

1. Competence in a specific area

Having people with technical or financial knowledge significantly increases the chances to succeed in most board actions.

That’s why it’s beneficial for any organization to include expertise in the particular sphere as a requirement to its development committee job description. Many organizations follow this tip and add such specialists as external advisors for the compensation committee. 

2. Leadership 

The organization’s performance is poorly affected by the ability of board development committee members to see the primary goals and the ways to achieve them. It’s crucial as some board members might need support or guidance from their colleagues. 

What can considerably improve the effectiveness of development committees is having a member with CEO experience on board. Such a person knows the specifics of encouraging and leading a team. 

3. Honesty 

Being one of the board development committee members means working for the betterment of the organization. Therefore, every team member must put the business interest above any others, especially individual ones.

Conflict of interest is what everyone in the development committee should strive to avoid. Working side-by-side with a family member or spouse welcomes personal issues to influence an organization’s board committee decisions. 

4. Dedication

If board development committee members don’t show deep interest in the organization’s activities, this harmfully impacts its general well-being. Lack of enthusiasm leads to lower efficiency and effectiveness. 

On the other hand, board members with a passion for their activities invest much of their time and energy, which may inevitably lead to the success of the overall development committee.

Want to build a stronger, more effective committee? Download our free board development plan templates to streamline member selection, goal-setting, and performance tracking.

Roles and responsibilities of the board development committee 

A well-functioning board development committee ensures that the board stays capable, diverse, and aligned with the organization’s mission. It often works closely with the executive committee to guide governance strategy and leadership development. 

Below are the main board development committee roles and responsibilities, along with practical examples.

Role	Responsibilities	Example
Defining the board’s mission and direction	Clarify the organization’s mission and values Set long-term goals and priorities for the board Ensure that all governance activities align with the strategic vision	Reviewing the mission statement during annual planning and aligning board objectives with the organization’s strategic plan.
Providing organizational oversight	Monitor the board’s structure and member performance Evaluate committee engagement and participation levels Collaborate with the executive committee to review governance effectiveness	Conducting annual board self-assessments and presenting improvement recommendations to the executive committee.
Recruiting and onboarding members	Identify and evaluate potential board candidates Maintain a skills and diversity matrix to guide recruitment Oversee onboarding and mentorship for new members	Creating a recruitment plan to fill expertise gaps and organizing orientation sessions for new trustees.
Monitoring financial performance	Review budgets and financial reports regularly Ensure transparency and accountability in fund allocation Coordinate with the executive committee and finance team on funding priorities	Reviewing quarterly financial updates and discussing sustainability goals during executive committee meetings.
Supporting fundraising and donor engagement	Encourage full board participation in fundraising initiatives Strengthen relationships with key donors and sponsors Lead events and outreach efforts to support fundraising goals	Hosting annual fundraising events and coordinating trustee participation in donor relations.

Nonprofit board development committees

Just like all other committees targeting board development, the nonprofit board development committee focuses on building a strong and effective board that supports the organization’s goals. 

However, unlike committees in for-profit organizations, which often prioritize shareholder value and business growth, nonprofit committees emphasize such things as community impact, fundraising, and, of course, long-term sustainability.

Nonprofit development committee responsibilities typically include:

• Leading and supporting fundraising campaigns to secure resources for programs
• Building and maintaining relationships with donors and sponsors
• Organizing fundraising events and community activities that promote the mission
• Recruiting board members with fundraising or nonprofit management experience
• Coordinating with the executive committee to align fundraising and governance goals

Best practices for a high-performing committee

Here’s what you should do to build a high-performing board:

• Organize work and track progress with accountability and transparency
• Get all members on the same page about the fundraising purpose
• Make your development a full-board business
• Embrace board retreats for strategic planning and team building

Now, let’s review those tips in more detail.

Organize work and track progress with accountability and transparency

In addition to setting a precise board development committee goal, it is also essential to understand how to achieve it. First, assign each task to specific individuals, not to the board as a whole. Thus, you exclude a risky scenario when the success depends on several persons.

Secondly, implement accountability and transparency by using solutions for assigning and tracking tasks in one place. For example, you may use the virtual board meeting software for this.

Get all members on the same page about the fundraising purpose

Often, boards are divided between those who believe fundraising is crucial and those who are wary of it.

Hold a sincere discussion with your entire board to see if you can meet your organization’s objectives without private funding. If you determine it is required, clarify the board’s role in meeting short- and long-term fundraising objectives.

Make your development a full-board business

Naturally, the development committee aims to achieve fundraising goals, for which the members plan and monitor critical tasks. However, the entire board is responsible for achieving annual fundraising goals — a fact that all participants must keep in mind.

Embrace board retreats for strategic planning and team building

Consider organizing periodic board retreats as a part of your board development strategy. Board retreats are off-site meetings or workshops attended by the board members, executives, and key stakeholders. These retreats offer a unique opportunity for board members to come together in a more relaxed and informal setting to focus on long-term planning, team building, and problem-solving.

To implement these practices, try virtual board portals for paperless board meetings, which are ideal for centralizing and tracking workflows.

Turn these best practices into real progress. Download free board development plan templates and start building a more organized and goal-driven committee today.

Final thoughts

A strong board doesn’t happen by accident — it’s built through consistent development. 

The board development committee plays a central role in this process. It shapes the board’s composition, enhances its effectiveness, and ensures alignment with the organization’s mission. By investing in training, fostering diversity, and embracing digital tools that enable transparency and collaboration, this committee turns good governance into measurable impact.

👉 Take the next step toward stronger governance — explore how digital tools like Ideals Board can help your committee collaborate securely and lead with confidence.

FAQ

What is the purpose of a board development committee?

The purpose of a board development committee is to build and maintain a strong and effective board. It ensures members have the right skills, experience, and commitment to fulfill the organization’s mission and long-term goals.

What are the 10 tasks of a development committee?

The 10 tasks of a development committee include teamwork, risk management, strategic planning, board leadership, cybersecurity, corporate culture, conflict management, board diversity, facilitation skills, and effective communication.

What are the development committee’s roles and responsibilities?

A board development committee’s roles and responsibilities include setting the board’s direction, ensuring good governance, and maintaining accountability. The committee also works with the executive committee on recruitment, financial oversight, and fundraising initiatives.

Who should serve on a board development committee?

The development committee’s board seats should be taken by individuals with experience in fundraising, governance, and leadership. Ideal members are strategic thinkers who can motivate others, mentor trustees, and help align the board’s work with the organization’s mission.

What are the nonprofit board development committee’s responsibilities?

A nonprofit board development committee focuses on recruiting mission-driven members, supporting fundraising efforts, and maintaining donor relationships. It also organizes events, encourages community engagement, and ensures the board stays aligned with the nonprofit’s goals and values.