A child care board of directors is a body of elected or appointed persons who jointly oversee the activities of the organization. The board's activities are determined by the powers, duties, and responsibilities delegated to it or conferred on it by an authority outside itself. Scope of activity and authority are typically detailed in the bylaws. This is a formalized group with rules and regulations. Often members have voting rights and participate in making decisions.
An advisory board is a group of individuals asked by the elected board of directors to provide a service or expertise. They are not voting members of the board of directors, and are not included in any of the legal duties imposed on the elected board members. The elected board is not required to take action on the advisory board recommendations. An advisory board may be an informal group, often put together based on similar areas of expertise, to aid an elected board of directors in handling certain issues related to the child care program.
