The Board members are elected by their peers. They represent the interests of the organization and make important decisions on behalf of the organization. The process for election varies by organization. Some organizations allow nominations from committees while others use Robert’s Rules of Order https://boardroomsecrets.info to elect board members via an election of the entire board. In either case, it’s essential that the rules and procedures are clearly stated.
The process of identifying candidates is a continual process to ensure that the board has enough people with the skills and experience required to meet the organization’s objectives and mission. The nominating panel will interview each candidate to determine if the person being considered is a good fit with the abilities, experience, and perspectives for a position on the board. The nominating committee should be aware of whether the organization requires new expertise in areas such as marketing, financial management, fundraising strategic planning, diversity and inclusivity.
When the nominating committee has a list of qualified candidates they will present them to the board to be approved. The board will examine the candidates and then decide on the nominees on a list that will be put to vote of the entire membership. In addition to voting, the board may also look over any candidates that weren’t selected to the slate and select individuals to be added to the board as directors-at-large. The directors will be decided on by the board in its entirety at a later time. In many instances, nominees will not be present for the vote. This allows the board to discuss their qualifications in the privacy of their own home.