Build a Community Advisory Structure with Real Authority

Design an advisory structure that gives community members genuine authority over the decisions that affect them.

About This Workshop

A working session where the team designs a community advisory structure that goes beyond token participation. Most advisory boards and community councils lack the authority, resources, or structural support to meaningfully influence organizational decisions. This workshop designs an advisory structure with clear authority, defined decision domains, and the organizational support to function effectively.

We Will Work On

• Assessing the organization's current community engagement structures and their actual authority
• Defining what decisions the advisory structure will have authority over versus input into
• Designing membership, facilitation, communication, and compensation practices
• Building organizational commitments for how advisory input will be received and acted upon
• Creating a launch plan and sustainability plan

This Workshop Results In:

• A written community advisory structure with defined authority, membership practices, and organizational commitments.

Designed for: Leadership teams and community engagement staff. This workshop benefits from early input from community members, either as participants or through prior consultation.