Q: What are some tips or best practices for recruiting and then supporting a volunteer advisory committee?

Jennifer Radke, CEO

National Institute for Social Media

A: The purpose of an advisory committee is to provide strategic and/or operational insight about an industry or the management of a company. It should provide knowledge that does not presently exist within the sponsoring organization.

Since you're seeking volunteers, recruitment incentives need to center on those who strongly share the values of the organization and/or have a great deal of respect for and loyalty to its management team. The boundaries of involvement, such as time per month and extent of participation over time, must be made clear to assure that volunteer work would be reasonably controlled.

The type of advice expected from the committee member can be specific or broad in nature. It should be unbiased and rooted in expert knowledge. Advisers should offer something intellectually specific to the organization and speak with authority about their areas of expertise. The range of committee issues should be aligned with the knowledge of advisers, and thus, may be narrow.

The size of an advisory committee may range from three to eight members. Volunteers should be assured that each meeting will be led by a skilled facilitator, that agendas will be followed and that confidentiality will be ensured. Members must be willing to work together and negotiate their positions within the operating context of the organization.

There are two major drawbacks to a volunteer advisory committee. First is the lack of formal compensation. The organization needs to find ways to keep members engaged. Second, advisory committees do not have fiduciary responsibilities and should not make binding financial decisions affecting the organization. The committee's advice can be ignored without consequences, and they must understand this.

The key focus in recruiting volunteer advisers is to engage in their positive feeling for the organization, assure that their expertise is recognized and respected and that the committee process is well-managed.

Jack Militello is a professor of management at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business.