Terms Limits
Goal #2: Limit directors to four consecutive terms.
According to BoardSource, “72 percent of boards have limits on how many consecutive terms an individual member can serve,” and the most common limit is two terms. The report concluded that “[t]erm limits help ensure that a board’s composition reflects its current leadership needs.” The researchers explained:
Without term limits, it can be difficult for a board to bring on new talent and leadership, which is essential for the long-term health of the leadership body. As the needs of the organization change over time, so should the composition of the board to ensure that the board has the necessary skill sets, perspectives, and networks for the future, rather than the past. The adoption of term limits by more and more boards is an encouraging sign about ongoing board revitalization, and it positions organizations to cultivate more strategic board composition over time. (2017 National Index of Nonprofit Board Practices, p. 18)
The Plan
Even though the more common practice is to limit directors to two three-year terms, we propose instead to impose a limit of four consecutive terms. This gives each board member as many as 12 years to accomplish his/her goals as a board member before yielding the seat. We think this structure appropriately balances the NRA’s competing needs for experience on the one hand and fresh perspectives on the other. It also does not prevent former board members from later returning to resume service non-consecutively.