Board Elections

About the Board

The Board of Directors is primarily member-elected, and is the main way we remain accountable to our membership. The Board is governed by the organizational bylaws, is responsible for making key decisions around budget and strategy, and is responsible for the highest degree of structural or mission based changes to the organization. To support our decentralized leadership, there are board members that serve as direct support to various circles.

The creative energy, ideas, and support that a strong and active NEC board of directors brings to the staff and membership has been crucial to the NEC community. The board performs a number of essential roles. First, it assures the integrity, continuity, and financial solvency of the organization through its oversight of organizational function and intervention in the event of an organizational crisis. Second, it is responsible for supporting staff, whose leadership drives NEC’s day-to-day work forward, as well as the evaluation of NEC’s management systems and structures. Third, it provides staff with guidance and support in fundraising, outreach, and organizational and program development. Most importantly, the NEC board ensures that NEC leadership remains accountable to our members and the solidarity economy movement.

A candidate for the position of board member of NEC should:

  1. Be excited and aligned with NEC’s mission, vision and values

  2. Have already been engaged or be willing to engage in NEC’s work and programs as member leaders, program participants or collaborators

  3. Be committed to fostering an anti-racist, anti-oppressive culture and environment for the staff and member community

  4. Be committed to supporting and developing staff and member leadership

  5. Function effectively in groups and meetings.

  6. Have the capacity to offer at least 4 hours / month to NEC board duties, which include:

  • Accepting the essential fiduciary responsibility that normally goes with a board membership for the solvency, integrity, and continuity of the organization.

  • Preparing for and participating in at least one in-person board meeting or retreat each year.

  • Participating in conference calls as requested (typically once a quarter)

  • Making an annual financial donation in line with personal capacity, and assisting with fundraising, including participating in one or more fundraising events each year.

  • Engaging with staff and membership on a regular basis through all member calls, skillshares, and other requests for advice or consultation relating to NEC work and programs


Ideal candidates for Board positions:

  • Have experience participating in or designing democratic governance and/or collective decision-making structures

  • Have expertise in non-profit or cooperative law, accounting, finance, and/or development

  • Represent our North Star communities (working class communities of color)

  • Are able to bring perspectives from any of the regional, sector, strategy, or movement gaps


Board terms are 2 or 4 years, with elections held every two years. Elections are ideally held at the annual member meeting, but may be held virtually if needed.


Election Process

Our board is member-elected, and the board should predominantly represent member organizations. Board terms are 2 or 4 years, with elections held every two years. Elections are ideally held at the annual member meeting, but may be held virtually if needed.

  1. Under the leadership of the board co-chairs and with support from staff (there may be a nominations committee established), candidate criteria is set and the recruitment/nominations process is launched. Candidates may come from within the membership or from the movement at-large, with priority given to member representation.

  2. Candidates must submit a statement and fill out an application.

  3. Candidates undergo evaluation and scoring by staff and board to determine who moves on to the final slate.

  4. Once a final slate is developed, it must be approved by the board.

  5. At that point candidates are invited to speak at an all-member call to introduce themselves and give a brief statement. This is recorded and shared with the entire membership.

  6. Following the call, the primary contact of each current NEC member organization is sent an email with an official voting link and instructions. We use ranked choice voting to elect the number of seats open to fill. One vote per current NEC member organization.

  7. Once board members are announced they are invited to attend the next board meeting and be formally affirmed into their seats.