Board of Directors Policies and FAQs
Board of Directors Policies
The Council's Board of Directors is governed by a set of policies; the following might be of interest to members and other external parties.
Board of Directors FAQs
Curious about how the Council's Board of Directors works? Check out some commonly asked questions below.
Paid staff members, officers, and members of the governing boards of Council member organizations are eligible to serve on the board. More information on Council membership can be found here.
The Governance Committee of the board is responsible, on an ongoing basis, for assessing board composition, setting priority criteria for new board members, identifying, cultivating and vetting a diverse set of potential candidates. Once candidates are selected, the Governance Committee submits an annual slate of nominees to the full board for approval. Once approved by the Board of Directors, the candidate slate is submitted by the Board Secretary to the membership for election at the annual membership meeting.
Potential candidates can be referred to the Governance Committee by any Council member or Board member. The Council’s President and CEO also suggests candidates for consideration. Once nominated, the Governance Committee regularly reviews the list and pursues candidates that will enrich the diversity of the Council board and align with their priorities for the year.
Participation in Council activities is an important way for individuals to prepare for future board service. The Governance Committee considers a candidate’s history of committee or working group service as part of their board candidacy. Those interested in becoming more engaged with the Council can reach out to the Council’s member engagement team.
Yes, self-nominations are accepted through any Council board member or the President and CEO. All self-nominations will be passed to the Governance Committee for consideration.
The Council’s vision is to support philanthropy as trusted partners in advancing the greater good. Core to advancing that vision as well as our mission, strategic direction, core beliefs, and operating principles is our ability to attract board members who bring the many dimensions and forms of diversity present within our membership to the Council’s leadership.
Just as important to recruiting a diverse set of board members is our commitment to create a board culture that values each board member’s full humanity by elevating and learning from the differences and deeply felt passions that exist on the board. We commit to working together on the Council's behalf in a spirit of honesty and respect and to doing so in a way that addresses conflicts directly while working hard to prevent harm.
The Governance Committee assesses the existing makeup of the Board across various dimensions of diversity to determine priorities for cultivation and recruitment. We look for candidates to expand our demographic diversity (race, gender, disability status, LGBTQ identity, etc.), experiential diversity (culture, lived experience, professional affiliation, organization size, geography etc.) and cognitive diversity (approach to problem-solving, world view, belief about how change happens etc.)
Board member terms are three years long, and board members can be re-elected once – bringing total years of service to six.
The Board of Directors is the highest governing authority of the Council and has the fiduciary responsibility to ensure the continued success of the institution.
The board ensures that the Council is operating in line with its strategic direction, core beliefs, and operating principles. They provide oversight on important decisions, ensure that the Council always acts in the best interests of its mission, protect Council assets, and verify that the Council operates legally and ethically.
Additionally, the Board also selects, evaluates, and serves as a strategic partner to the President and CEO, serve as champions for the Council, cultivating members and supporters, and contributing time, expertise and financial resources in support of the Council’s mission.
In close partnership with the President and CEO, board members:
- Envision, shape, and advance the Council’s strategic direction and its distinctive role in the philanthropic landscape
- Oversee the organization's finances, governance, and operations
- Engender trust by engaging relevant stakeholders and communicating openly
- Participate actively in Council events and board meetings
- Champion the Council’s mission
We welcome your questions! Please get in touch with Marlee Clayton in the Council’s Executive Office or Kathleen Enright, the President and CEO with your questions.
