The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

About the Trustee Council 

The Nature Conservancy’s Trustee Council represents and expresses the wide array of views, values and perspectives that make the Conservancy a strong and diverse organization.

The Council serves as a catalyst and resource for engaging trustees in cross-border priorities, and acts as an integral part of a broader program of improved communication, dialogue and engagement of volunteer leaders across the Conservancy. 

For more information about the Trustee Council, please contact Nat Williams.

How the Trustee Council Works

The Mission of the Trustee Council is to further and enhance the mission of The Nature Conservancy (the “Conservancy”) by engaging and inspiring Trustees from all Conservancy chapters through communication, involvement and effectiveness in their work.

I. Composition

1. The Council will be composed of the chairs of the state, country and regional boards – i.e. “chapter chairs.” When the Chair is unable to represent the chapter the Vice-Chair (Chair-Elect) should represent the Chapter Board. If necessary, another officer or active member of the board may substitute for the elected leadership of the board.

II. Principal Purposes

1. To provide the chapter leadership an opportunity to develop greater understanding of and participate in discussion of the Conservancy’s organization-wide conservation and operating issues.
2. To serve as a conduit for sharing of views on major issues of the Conservancy between the Chapter Boards and the Board of Directors.
3. To strengthen the engagement of all Trustees on issues transcending state and country lines by providing the leadership to leverage skills, interests and relationships of trustees inside and outside of the Conservancy.
4. To participate in opportunities to increase the effectiveness of Chapter Boards through implementation of Conservancy chapter operating standards and protocols including Conservancy Best Practices information.

III. Activity

1. The Trustee Council will meet annually with the Board of Directors. Additional Council meetings will be held as necessary to meet the goals of the Council.
2. Council members may be asked to identify and recruit other Trustees to serve on special task force groups to address specific Conservancy issues and opportunities.

IV. Annual Meeting

1. The fall meeting of the Council will be designated the Annual Meeting and the Council will receive a “State of the Organization” report covering finance, philanthropy and general conditions of the organization.

V. Council Leadership

1. The Trustee Council will be headed by a Chair and Vice-Chair, each serving one year terms.
2. The position of Vice-Chair will also be the Chair-Elect for the following year.
3. All members of the Council are eligible for the Chair and Vice-Chair roles and may serve in those capacities beyond their active terms as chairs of their state chapter boards. Individuals are also eligible who have been Council members during the previous year.
4. The Chair and Vice-Chair will work with the professional and volunteer leadership of the Conservancy to direct the agendas and activities of the Council to meet the Council objectives and goals.
5. Candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to the Conservancy’s Global Conservation mission, either through personal experiences or in leadership with their chapter board or other activities of the Conservancy.
6. The Vice-Chair will be nominated in the fall of each year and elected in the fall meeting of the Council
7. A nominating committee will consist of the following individuals: (1) the current Chair and Vice-Chair (Chair-Elect); (2) Council Liaisons appointed by the Board of Directors; and (3) the Council’s immediate past Chair.
8. Council members will be asked to submit nominations (including self-nominations) to the Director of Trustee Programs by August 1 of each year. Each nominee will provide a brief biography and statement outlining qualifications and goals he or she hopes to achieve through Council leadership. The Nominating Committee will present the nominations for Vice-Chair to the Council members one month before the fall meeting.
9. The Chair and Vice-Chair will commence their terms at the conclusion of the fall meeting and conclude their terms at the conclusion of the fall meeting of the subsequent year.
10. In the event the Chair cannot complete his or her term the Vice-Chair will assume the duties of the Chair to complete that year and will assume the duty of Chair for the full following year. The Nominating Committee will call for new nominations for Vice-Chair and fill that position by a vote of the Council conducted in the manner determined by the nominating committee.

Related Propositions:

1. Trustees will be encouraged to play an active role in identifying candidates for the Board of Directors.
    
2. The Board’s Governance, Nominating and Human Resources Committee will produce an annual profile of the backgrounds and skills being sought in new candidates for the Board that will be communicated to the Council members.
    
3. The Council serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and the Board will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of the Council in meeting the mission of the Conservancy.