Governance

Committee terms of reference

Formal definition

Committee terms of reference is a charity governance term for structuring board and committee oversight so decisions are lawful, documented, and accountable.

What this actually means for you

For day-to-day delivery, Committee terms of reference should be documented clearly and applied consistently; make decision rights explicit, record rationale, and keep evidence linked to actions and owners.

Example: At the next review checkpoint, Committee terms of reference is used in practice like this: board papers include risk, options, and recommendation fields so minutes capture a clear audit trail. Accountabilities are captured in signed agreements, committee papers, and operating handbooks.

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