SBCA Committees & Governance Structure

Proposed structure, pending approval of the associated bylaws amendments. These changes are expected to be voted on alongside this year's officer and Board elections.

Help shape the future of the Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis (SBCA). We are continually seeking volunteers to serve on key committees and initiatives. Serving as a volunteer is a meaningful way to support the Society's mission, grow your professional network, and contribute to the advancement of benefit-cost analysis.

Ready to serve? Submit your volunteer interest form here.

NOTE: Expressions of interest may be submitted at any time, but most volunteer positions are filled in May/June/July each year.

Governance Bodies

SBCA's leadership is organized into three governance bodies.

Presidents Group

Chair: President.

Composition: President, Vice President, Immediate Past President, Executive Director.

Meets: Weekly.

SBCA's primary day-to-day decision-making body. Handles operational decisions, emerging issues, and matters requiring prompt attention between Executive Committee meetings, and prepares agendas and recommendations for Executive Committee and Board meetings.

Executive Committee

Chair: President.

Composition: President, Vice President, Immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Past Treasurer; Executive Director attends in a supporting role.

Meets: Monthly, in months when the Board does not meet.

Oversees the Society's financial health and operational management, and absorbs the responsibilities of the Finance and Development Committees, which are proposed for dissolution.

Board of Directors

Chair: President.

Composition: All Officers plus an even number of elected non-officer members (minimum six; currently eight). Editor-in-Chief serves as a non-voting ex officio member. Terms run from Annual Conference to Annual Conference rather than January 1–December 31.

Meets: 3–4 times per year.

The governing body of the Society. Sets strategic direction, approves budgets, authorizes standing committees and working groups, and receives annual work plan presentations from committee chairs.

Bylaws-Mandated Committees

The proposed restructuring reduces the number of bylaws-mandated permanent committees from eight to four: the Presidents Group, the Executive Committee, and the two committees below.

Nominations & Elections Committee

Chair: Immediate Past President.

Composition: Immediate Past President (chair); Vice President (advisory role); additional members recruited by the chair.

Meets: As needed; primary activity runs September–November annually.

Combines the current Nominating Committee and Elections Committee. Manages both candidate recruitment and the elections process, with a mandate expanded to include systematic recruitment of Board candidates who will serve as committee chairs. Sets expectations for Board service at the time candidates are asked to run, and coordinates with the Executive Director on Board orientation after elections.

Audit Committee

Chair: A non-officer Board member in their second year of service.

Composition: Three or more non-officer Board members or voting members of the Society, serving staggered three-year terms; Treasurer serves as a non-voting ex officio member.

Meets: Annually, after the end of the fiscal year.

Establishes and implements an auditing procedure, reviews the previous year's finances, and reports findings to the Board. One new member is recruited each year to maintain the stagger.

Standing Committees

Board-authorized standing committees carry out the Society's ongoing programmatic work.

Annual Conference Program Committee

Chair: Vice President.

Composition: Vice President (chair) plus subcommittee leads and members.

Meets: As needed, June–March.

Organizes SBCA's annual conference. To distribute the workload, the committee is restructured into three subcommittees:

• Abstract Review: Manages the submission and peer review process for conference papers and presentations.

• Plenary Sessions: Identifies and secures keynote speakers and shapes the plenary program.

• Organized Session Development: Proactively recruits and assembles organized sessions, identifying topically related presenters and grouping them into sessions or roundtables on emerging topics — distinct from abstract assignment.

Professional Development Committee

Chair: Board member, appointed by the President.

Composition: Chair plus members recruited by the chair.

Meets: As needed; activity tied to the programming calendar.

Responsible for all of SBCA's virtual programming — not just workshops, but the full portfolio of online learning and engagement events (including Lunchtime Perspectives and Ask an Expert sessions). Does not organize the Annual Conference, which is the Annual Conference Program Committee's responsibility.

Membership Committee

Chair: Board member, appointed by the President.

Composition: Chair plus members recruited by the chair.

Meets: As needed.

A new committee focused on membership growth, retention, and member experience: identifying barriers to membership, evaluating the value proposition across member segments, and developing strategies to improve conversion and renewal. Also oversees the Organizational Affiliate program. Does not manage individual membership records or communications, which remain with HQ staff.

Awards Committee

Chair: Immediate Past President.

Composition: Immediate Past President (chair) plus three members serving staggered three-year terms.

Meets: Annually, timed sequentially after Nominations & Elections Committee activity to manage IPP workload.

Administers SBCA's recognition programs, including awards presented at the Annual Conference. Defines eligibility criteria, solicits nominations, evaluates candidates, and recommends recipients to the Board.

Journal Committee

Chair: Editor-in-Chief.

Composition: Editor-in-Chief (chair), Managing Editor, representative Associate Editors, Editorial Board members as appropriate; President serves as ex officio liaison.

Meets: At minimum annually, to report to the Board.

Oversees the health and strategic direction of the Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis and absorbs the function of the former Journal Awards Committee. Moves from a bylaws-mandated permanent committee (currently IPP-chaired) to a Board-authorized standing committee chaired by the Editor-in-Chief.

European Activities Committee

Chair: To be identified; appointed by the President in consultation with the Board.

Composition: Chair plus members with European conference and programming expertise.

Meets: As needed; activity tied to the European Conference planning cycle.

Supports SBCA's presence and programming in Europe: identifying and cultivating hosts for the European Conference (typically a two-year pipeline) and maintaining SBCA's webinar partnership with the Toulouse School of Economics. Formalizes and elevates a group already doing this work.

Task Forces & Working Groups

Established by Presidential appointment. Task forces are time-limited and dissolve when their deliverable is complete; working groups have ongoing mandates.

AI and BCA Task Force

Chair: To be identified; appointed by the President in consultation with the Board.

Composition: 4–6 members; a mix of practitioners, academics, and at least one member with technical AI expertise.

Status: New; dissolves on delivery of the final product.

Scopes use cases for artificial intelligence in benefit-cost analysis practice and develops guidance on transparency and quality standards for AI-assisted work.

Expanding the Audience for BCA

Goal: Broaden participation in benefit-cost analysis among groups currently underrepresented in SBCA's membership and conference attendance. This effort is organized as discrete, champion-led initiatives.

State & Local Government Initiative — Champion: Rob Moore

International Initiative — Champion: Ewa Zawojska

Who Should Volunteer?

We welcome volunteers at all stages of their careers—from students to senior professionals—and from across disciplines, sectors, and geographic regions. No prior board or committee experience is required. Volunteers should bring:

✓️ A commitment to SBCA's mission
✓️ Willingness to actively participate
✓️ Respect for confidentiality and collaboration

How to Volunteer

If you're interested in serving on a committee or initiative, please complete our brief interest form: SBCA Volunteer Interest Form

We match volunteers to opportunities on a rolling basis and will follow up with additional information.