Nominating Committee
The people who make up your leadership team (and the leadership bench) are the biggest factor in your chapter or council success. Actively investing time and energy into a thoughtful and strategic nominating committee process is the best way to facilitate placing the right leader into the right role while generating a pool of qualified volunteers. A nominating committee also plays a crucial role in ensuring effective governance. Here’s a breakdown of a chapter or council nominating committee’s key responsibilities:
Identifying Leadership Needs and Developing a Nomination Processes: The committee should spend time reflecting on your current leadership team to forecast upcoming leadership needs and opportunities. Review term limits, strategic plan goals and future initiatives to cultivate aspirational leadership goals. The committee should establish fair, transparent and inclusive procedures for selecting candidates. Consider a process that involves a simple map, like this (example).
Recruiting and Evaluating Candidates: The committee should assess potential nominees based on predefined criteria, ensuring they align with the organization’s mission and needs. Actively seek out individuals with the necessary skills, experience and commitment to serve on the board of directors or in other leadership roles. Review leadership development tactics. Employ lead generation activities like community mapping, membership surveys, and focused brainstorms with current leadership.
Good Governance and Compliance: The nominating committee ensures that the nomination process adheres to the organization’s bylaws and any relevant regulations. The committee compiles a list (or slate) of qualified candidates to be presented to the board for election. The committee leads an orientation process to help new leaders effectively meet the role expectations and increase the likelihood that they will recruit additional members, donors and leaders. And, the nominating committee supports the development of other committees to recruit other qualified people who they can then cultivate into leadership positions.
Watch: Learn more about organizing an effective nominating committee in this video.
As you organize your committee, you are encouraged to connect with your Engagement and Volunteer Operations Staff to discuss the tactics and techniques best suited to prospect and place potential leaders for success.