• Advisory boards offer a valuable knowledge base from experts in the field providing support to older adults, adults with disabilities and family caregivers. Choose members across the demographic and experience spectrum. Look for equity and lived experience when identifying members. Consider empowering everyone participating in the program to be an advisor and to share input and program advancement. This may provide a sense of motivation and purpose, especially for volunteers.
  • An advisory board or stakeholder group can be extremely beneficial during program creation. They can assist in identifying community needs and potential solutions, developing volunteer training, aiding in achieving cultural sensitivity, and providing access to community resources. Advisory board members can assist with fundraising, community marketing and be the boots on the ground at community events.
  • Advisory board members may participate in the daily activities of your organization’s program until it is managed and implemented by staff members and volunteers. Then, they may transition to other roles in your organization such as program governance if that is appropriate.
  • Once the model is in full implementation, keep the advisory board or stakeholder group informed of program successes, barriers, risks and outcomes. This can be done in various ways depending on the board or group’s preference for communication.
  • Advisory boards can provide guidance on how to move programs forward, how to overcome barriers, give feedback on program progress, assist in strategic planning and help to identify and select contractors when needed.
  • Establish a diverse group of community stakeholders reflective of individuals that would benefit from your program and provide guidance and oversight of various programmatic and organizational components. This may include helping your organization and staff get connected to other volunteer programs/directors for collaboration and information sharing, recruitment of community volunteers and program participant referral.
  • Utilization of monthly meetings with your advisory board can ensure your program is truly meeting the needs of your community.
  • Be sure to include care recipients, family caregivers and volunteers on your advisory board.
  • Access to technology may be a barrier to potential members of your advisory board. Brainstorm ideas to overcome these barriers like hosting in person advisory meetings, having hard copies of notes available, and finding various ways for the board to correspond with one another.
  • Some organizations may find it beneficial to take a multi-tiered approach with your advisory board. This may include a large group that provides feedback and high-level program planning while a smaller subcommittee focuses on specific program(s) within your organization and provides feedback, programmatic, marketing, and fundraising assistance specific to the program(s) assigned to that subcommittee.
  • Consider development and implement of advisory councils for both volunteers and care recipients. This can provide meaningful feedback highlighting progress, challenges and recommendations for change.