Foodshare Board of Directors

Committee Responsibilities

Executive Committee

When needed, make decisions and implement interim policies between regular meetings of the full Board of Directors.

Oversight and performance appraisal of the President.

Management of committees and annual work plan -- including assigning work or projects.

Regularly review progress on meeting the objectives outlined in the organization's strategic plan and suggest needed activity to keep on schedule.

Organize and implement an orientation program for new Board members, including training sessions, hands-on learning activities, and a buddy system that pairs experienced Board members with new ones.

Serve as the grievance committee for employee grievances in keeping with the organization’s personnel policies.

United Way relations

Finance Committee

Development and oversight of annual budget

Regular review of internal control systems

Monitor investment policy

Oversee banking relationships

Review and oversee insurance programs

  • Address human resource policy issues as needed
  • Information technology
  • Risk Management

Audit Committee

  • Hires, manages the relationship with, and evaluates the independent auditor.
  • Reviews scope of audit and anticipated test procedures with auditor prior to the beginning of the annual audit.
  • Reviews the audit report and other relevant documents with the auditor, including the accounting for and disclosure of unusual or large financial transactions.
  • Reviews compliance with all regulatory reporting requirements (e.g., single audits, IRS Form 990, Connecticut CPC-60).
  • Reports the results of the annual audit to the Board of Directors.
  • Reviews Foodshare’s framework for internal controls and risk assessment.
  • Provides oversight of Foodshare’s fraud detection and prevention procedures.
  • Pre-approves any non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditor

Governance and Nominating Committee

Review Board members activities and involvement on a regular basis

Identify unmet needs on Foodshare's Board (diversity, skills, organizations) and recruit to fill those needs

Prepare a slate of Directors and Officers for the March Annual Business Meeting.

  • Regular review of governance policies

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council is a group of volunteers, representing diverse parts of the greater Hartfordcommunity that advises and supports the Board of Directors and staff at Foodshare on various aspects of the organization’s work to end hunger.

Advisory Council volunteers are asked to:

  • Participate in the Foodshare volunteer orientation program at their convenience.
  • Participate in one of the sub-groups of the Council each year, which involves two to six meetings per year.
  • Attend the combined Advisory Council meeting each fall for updates on Foodshare’s overall work.
  • Attend Foodshare’s annual meeting each spring.
  • Be a roving ambassador, using appropriate opportunities to let others know about Foodshare.
  • Make a personal annual contribution to the organization.
  • When appropriate, assist with the solicitation of their employers for a contribution.

Additional tasks that Advisory Council volunteers may consider, include:

  • Co-host one community breakfast each year.
  • Contact government officials for their support of the work to end hunger.
  • Being involved in fundraising activities during the course of each year.
  • Recommend new volunteers to Foodshare.

The Advisory Council is divided into six sub-groups to work on various aspects of Foodshare’s operations. These Councils may also organize committees to work on particular projects or events. Current Advisory Councils include:

Agency Advisory Council – provides advice on policies related to Foodshare’s partner agencies, identifies potential new agencies, helps develop and promote new programs, keeps the issues and challenges facing hungry people in front of Foodshare’s Board and staff, supports Foodshare’s agency relations staff

Development Advisory Council -- develops a balanced, year-round fundraising plan, with strategies and work plans for each of the major areas of giving; provide oversight to fundraising activities and events; evaluation of all development activities; serves as a “think tank” to consider changes in fundraising strategies or activities

Food Industry Council – supports the effort to involve all levels of the food industry in Foodshare’s work

Public Policy Advisory Council – provides advice on public policy issues that affect hungry people, education and outreach activities to further the work of ending hunger, support Foodshare’s President in these activities

Public Relations Advisory Council – provides advice on policies, strategy, and evaluation of all public relations activities, seeks to build Foodshare’s name recognition as a way to support the work of ending hunger, supports the President and Foodshare staff in public relations activities

Volunteer Advisory Council – provides advice on policies related to volunteers; organizes, evaluates, and manages volunteer projects; supports Foodshare’s volunteer management staff

Volunteer Committees

Walk Against Hunger Committee

The Walk Against Hunger Committee is a free-standing, year-round committee that requires broad involvement for success. The Walk Committee is generally organized into three sub-committees: Arrangements, Recruitment, and Public Relations. The chairs of each of these sub-committees, along with other key volunteers and agency representatives serve on a Walk Steering Committee.

Empty Bowls Committee

A committee of volunteers organizes the annual “Empty Bowls” event at ManchesterCommunity College. This event involves securing donated pottery bowls from both amateur and professional potters, securing donations of soup and bread to serve in the bowls, and then selling tickets to a luncheon.

NALC Food Drive

Not really a committee in the classic sense, this group of volunteers helps organize the annual National Association of Letter Carriers food drive by working with local post offices.

Speaker’s Bureau / Ambassadors

Also not exactly a committee, this group of volunteers spreads Foodshare’s message through speaking engagements, tabling events, and other opportunities to get Foodshare’s name and mission out to the public.

Gleaning Captains

Again, not a committee, but this group of volunteers oversees volunteer harvesting projects in local farmer’s fields during the summer and fall.