Boards are powerful for a non-profit organization but they need the proper people to make them efficient. The members of the board must be enthusiastic about the cause they represent, have the time and energy to carry out their duties and possess skills that advance your organization’s goals. The best method to attract them is to have an inclusive Election of Board Members board that includes members from a variety of backgrounds. This will allow you to gain different perspectives, which are essential to make sound decisions.

Many organizations have their very own nomination procedures. They could be outlined in your bylaws, or require the creation of a nominating committee. A nominating panel could include current members of your board or an uninvolved third party appointed to conduct assessments. The nominating committee must take a meeting and thoroughly review the membership list, the bylaws along with a description of duties of each office and the requirements for eligibility for candidates.

The nominating committee will then select the nominees to be presented for the vote of the entire board. It could be done by voice vote or ballot based on your membership. The nominating committee could use a managed election platform such as myDirectVote and DirectVoteLive to simplify the process and provide transparency throughout the voting period.

The member group will employ a voting system like plurality or preference nominations, based on the bylaws. Preferential nominations allow voters the chance to express their preferences in greater detail as opposed to simple majority voting. This provides a more precise image of what your organization’s members feel about individual candidates.