“One of These Things Is Not Like the Other”: Differentiating Between Boards, Councils, Committees, and Advisory Groups

With apologies to Sesame Street and its well-known song lyrics, “One of these things (is not like the others)” applies to the world of volunteer management, too. Consider organizational constructs like boards, councils, committees, and advisory groups. When it comes to your organization or specific project, which is most appropriate? How do you differentiate one from the next? How can volunteer administrators most effectively involve and activate members of these groups?

In this e-Volunteerism feature, academics and volunteer organizational experts Ken Culp, Harriett Edwards, and Jenny W. Jordan help answer these questions while working to clarify the many diverse angles to this topic.