Nominating the Right Board President

Campaigns, Caucuses, Primaries & Promises……

It’s the quadrennial Presidential election season, and everyone wants your vote. 

While a contested election may be good for the country, doing the same for your nonprofit just distracts you from delivering your mission.

Especially if your entire organization is committed to the same mission and your whole board supports the strategic plan.

Then what makes a good nominee for president? What makes a good nominee for ANY officer on your board? These are the questions your nominating committee should answer.

Before asking WHO, figure out what your president needs to do the job.

Here are a few questions to start you off:

• What level of commitment and drive does our president need, in order to keep our plan on track?
• What skills does our president need to be able to keep our board focused on the future?
• What kind of president <-> CEO relationship will make it possible for us to achieve our goals?
• What specific knowledge should our president have upon entering the role, and what knowledge can be acquired on the job?

Only after answering those questions, should you start seeking a president from among your board members. Because then you’ll know how to evaluate whether they’re ready for the job.

Similar questions can be asked about any board officer position. What questions would YOU ask, before contemplating a new secretary, treasurer, vice president?