An advisory board is an informal group of individuals that offers advice, helps make decisions, or provides leadership that is in the best interest of a foundation. In many cases, the committee members of an advisory board are external to an organization. This type of group provides neutral insight for efficient and effective decisions. Executives then test certain decisions and fine-tune concepts before bringing them to a board of directors. An advisory board or committee can be created to provide service to a CEO, a division president, or a focus group for sales, product development, or another business aspect.