Election of Board Members for Nonprofit Organizations

18 Oct Election of Board Members for Nonprofit Organizations

view

Boards can be a powerful part of an organization that is non-profit but only if they’re staffed by the appropriate people. The members of the board must be enthusiastic about your cause, have the time and energy to perform their duties and possess skills that advance the goals of your organization. A diverse board with a range of backgrounds is the best way to attract such people. This lets you gain different perspectives, which is essential for making sound decisions.

Many organizations have their very own nomination procedures. These could be defined in your bylaws, or they may require the formation of a nominating committee. The nominating committee may comprise the current board members or a neutral third party hired to conduct assessments. The nominating committee must meet and carefully examine the membership list, the bylaws and a description of the duties of each office and the requirements for eligibility for candidates.

The nominating board will then select candidates to present to the full board. Depending on your membership this can be conducted by ballot or via a voice vote. The nominating panel can use an election platform that is managed, such as DirectVoteLive or myDirectVote to make voting easier and ensure transparency.

After the nominees have been presented for election The member organization will apply a method of voting such as plurality, or preferential nominations (depending on your bylaws). Preferential nominations allow voters the chance to express their preferences more clearly than a simple majority vote. This gives a more accurate picture of how your organisation’s members feel about the specific candidates.