Board members are elected by their peers to represent the shareholders’ interests and make important decisions for the company. The method of appointing board members varies from organization to organization. Some organizations allow nominations to the committee while others employ Robert’s Rules of Order for the selection of board members. In either case, it’s essential that the rules and procedures are clearly stated.
Recruiting candidates is an ongoing process to ensure that the board is staffed with enough individuals with the abilities and expertise necessary to meet the organization’s objectives and mission. The nominating committee will interview each candidate to determine if the person being considered is a good fit with the abilities as well as experience and perspectives for a position on the board. The nominating committee will consider whether the organization requires new expertise in areas like marketing and financial management, fundraising, strategic planning, and inclusion and diversity.
The board will approve the list of nominees once the nominating panel has endorsed it. The board will examine the candidates and then approve a slate of nominees to be put to a vote of the all members. The board is also able to review candidates who didn’t make the cut, and pick individuals to serve on the board as directors at large. These directors will be voted by the board’s full members at a later time. In most cases, the nominees won’t be present for the vote. This allows the board to discuss their qualifications in the privacy of their own home.
