Do You Use Committee Action Plans?

     If you would like to improve the effectiveness of your committees, ask them to create and adhere to a year-long action plan.

     Each plan is particular to the goals and objectives of each of your non-profit’s committees. At a minimum, an effective action plan should include the following:

• Overriding goal of the committee
• Specific and measurable objectives
• Detailed tasks which will move committee toward accomplishing objectives
• Person responsible for each task
• Cost of each task
• Deadline for completing each task

   The action plan could also include a calendar of committee meeting dates for the entire year; committee member names, addresses and phone and fax numbers; and committee budget.
Build in dates (perhaps quarterly) for periodic evaluation of the action plan’s progress. This enables committees to correct any trouble spots along the way and gives them a realistic look at what still needs to be accomplished.

   Besides keeping your meetings on track and productive, action plans give committees a sense of purpose.