Board committees are at the heart of good governance. Committee members make the necessary decisions and provide the day-to-day oversight needed to ensure that a family foundation board follows its fiduciary and legal responsibilities. See below for examples of the most commonly used foundation board committees.
Visit the policy central homepage for details on our disclaimer and on submitting your own policy.
Sample Policies
Audit Committees
- Audit Committee Responsibilities (Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, 2015)
- Audit Committee Charter (William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, 2013)
- Audit Committee Charter (Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, 2016)
- Audit Committee Charter (The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, 2013)
Community Advisory Committees
- Call for Community Advisory Council candidates (Delaplaine Foundation, 2022)
- Community Based Boards Position Description Recruitment (Tzedek Social Justice Fund, 2021)
- Honoraria Policy for Community Members (Anonymous Foundation, 2024)
Compensation and Benefits Committees
- Compensation Committee Charter (The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, 2016)
- Employee Benefits Administrative Committee Charter (The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, 2007)
Executive Committees
- Executive Committee Roles and Responsibilities (Laidlaw Foundation, 2023)
- Executive Committee Charter (The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, 2016)
- Executive Committee Charter (Anonymous Foundation, 2014)
Finance Committees
- Finance Committee Roles and Responsibility (Anonymous Foundation, 2024)
- Finance and Audit Committee (Laidlaw Foundation, 2023)
- Finance Committee Charter (The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, 2016)
- Finance Committee Charter (Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, 2015)
- Finance Committee Charter (Doris Duke Foundation, 2018)
- Finance Committee Nomination Process (Anonymous Foundation, 2024)
Grants Committees
- Grants Committee Charter (Frey Foundation, 2023)
- Grants Committee (Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, 2015)
Investment Committees
- The Role and Responsibilities of Investment Committees (MacArthur Foundation, 2009)
- Investment Committee Charter (Frey Foundation, 2023)
- Investment Committee Roles and Responsibilities (Laidlaw Foundation, 2023)
- Investment Committee Roles and Responsibilities (J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, 2022)
- Investment and Audit Committee Job Announcement (Russell Family Foundation, 2022)
- Investment Committee Charter (The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, 2016)
- Investment Committee Charter (Rockefeller Brothers Fund, 2014)
Mission Related Investing Committees
Nominating and Governance Committees
- Nominating Committee Roles and Term (Anonymous Foundation, 2024)
- Nomination Process for New Board Members (Anonymous Foundation, 2024)
- Governance and Recruitment Committee Duties and Responsibilities (Laidlaw Foundation, 2023)
- Governance Committee Sample Charter (Anonymous Foundation, 2017)
- Nominating Committee (Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, 2015)
- Board Composition Assessment of Capabilities and Knowledge (Laidlaw Foundation, 2023)