Undertaking a task such as designing and developing a free clinic requires direction, support, and research. Whether a formal or informal process, the form and execution of the tasks associated with this long-term project are guided by an assembled group of individuals called a steering committee. A steering committee is a group of individuals who set the agenda and program for the training of the nonprofit organization and clinic. This committee can have anywhere from two to ten people, but for the sake of completing tasks, it is optimal to try to keep it under five people. Ideally, these committee members will be representatives of different disciplines. Look for people with backgrounds or experience in accounting, law, fundraising, physicians/healthcare professionals, and business leaders. They will be able to use their network and experience to help you along the way when you encounter challenges. For example, your accountant may have experience with nonprofit organizations, since you will need to set up a 501c3 organization for tax purposes. You will also need to know how to market your clinic, manage your finances, and search for potential donors. What is your vision? Before you start assembling your steering committee you need to make sure you have a vision. Your vision statement should contain no more than three sentences in which you describe why you started the clinic and what you intend to achieve as a result of starting the center. It should be inspiring and motivating in describing how you can uniquely meet the needs of certain healthcare segments you have identified. The steering committee can shape your vision which in turn will tell you the information… halfway through the document… how to take appropriate action, but also take the opportunity to re-emphasize their essential active role. Share with them the tasks to be done and secure buy-in by sharing the preliminary project plan. Communicate the vision and scope of the project to them and ensure they have continuous access to the right information. Check that members are clear about their role. Setting these expectations is neither easy nor obvious. There is a role that precedes the steering committee. This role is that of the person (or people) who establishes the committee. This is where it starts: someone forms the committee. Someone, or a small team, will set up the steering committee and create the rules, expectations, guidelines, etc... It starts with the key people and usually their job requires choosing the rest of the team.