The purpose of this Succession Plan is to ensure a smooth transition of CRM’s Officers and/or Directors and preserve its mission, culture, and strategic priorities so as to (i) avoid a single point of failure crisis, (ii) maintain key donor relationships, (iii) prevent “password keeper” issues, (iv) avoid mission drift, and (v) maintain credibility with funders that might be concerned about sustainability. This Plan provides a framework for identifying, preparing, and onboarding new Officers and Directors. This Plan is a living document and may be amended from time to time by the Board to reflect changes in CRM’s operations, mission, culture, and strategic and leadership priorities.
A. Presides over all Board meetings and Executive Committee meetings unless such duties are delegated to the President. The Board Chair also performs such other services and duties pertaining to CRM’s business and affairs that the Board may assign from time to time. Bylaws, § 3.2.
B. Oversees implementation of the Succession Plan.
C. Appoints two (2) Board members for, and Chairs, the Governance Committee to manage recruitment and nominations of new Officers and Directors. Should the Board Chair position be the one sought to be filled, the President (or his or her designee) will Chair the Governance Committee.
D. Ensures outgoing Officers and Directors mentor incoming Officers and Directors during transition.
A. The President (i) oversees the work of CRM, subject to the control and approval of the Board, (ii) is answerable to the Board and the Executive Committee for his or her actions, (iii) may sign and/or enter, with the Secretary or any other Officer authorized by the Board, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments authorized by the Board, except in cases where the execution of such documents shall be expressly delegated by the Board, by these Bylaws or by statute, to another CRM Officer, agent, or representative, and (iv) performs such other duties incident to the office of President as may be assigned by the Board from time to time. The President sets the agenda for all Board Meetings and Executive Committee meetings. In the event the Board Chair is unable to attend and discharge his or her duties at any Board Meeting over which he or she would normally preside, the President performs such duties. Bylaws, § 3.3.
B. Provides input on needed Board skills and ministry priorities.
C. Participates in identifying potential Officer and/or Director candidates aligned with organizational needs.
D. Chief liaison with grant-making organizations.
E. Chief liaison with overseas ministry partners, including, without limitation, Ecclesia (Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan) and Emmanuel Lazar (Tanzania).
F. Organizes overseas short-term mission trips, including identifying the target areas and ministry activities to be performed.
G. Drafts the monthly email newsletters and other outreach emails.
H. Stewards existing and prospective donors, by, without limitation, speaking at churches and writing thank you letters to online donors and other significant donors.
A. Performs all duties incident to the office of Vice President and such other duties that may be assigned by the Board, the Executive Committee, the President, or the Board Chair from time to time. In the event the President or Board Chair are unable to attend and discharge their duties at any meeting over which they would normally preside, the Vice President performs such duties. Bylaws, § 3.6.
B. Chairs the Development Committee.
C. Serves as the CRM Chief Marketing Officer.
D. Oversees the CRM website and social media initiatives.
E. Works with President to finalize and send the monthly email newsletters and other outreach emails.
F. Works with the President to maintain CRM’s accreditation with ECFA, Candid, Charity Navigator, and other such like-minded organizations at the highest level possible.
G. Works with the Treasurer on accounting and tax issues, including working with the outside accounting firm to prepare and file the annual IRS Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax.
H. Develops new revenue streams and enhances existing revenue streams.
I. Works on other assigned special projects from time to time.
A. The Treasurer (i) chairs the Finance Committee, (ii) develops and oversees the annual budget and, if income is less than the budgeted amounts, in consultation with the President and subject to approval by the Board, adjusts the annual budget as necessary during the fiscal year, (iii) oversees the custody and safekeeping of securities, cash, and other assets belonging to CRM with the power to issue receipt for same and endorse for deposit all checks payable to CRM or the Treasurer, (iv) oversees the investment and re-investment of funds belonging to CRM, subject to the direction of the Board and the Finance Committee, (v) oversees the disbursement of funds under the direction of the Board, or with written approval of the Treasurer and the President, (vi) works with the President and/or the Board to identify appropriate outside audit firm candidates and appoint a firm to conduct the annual audit or review, (vii) oversees the CRM books of account, (viii) prepares financial statements as needed, setting forth the detailed financial condition of CRM since the date of the preceding financial statements, including financial and investment accounts, assets, liabilities, receipts, and disbursements, (ix) prepares and presents financial reports at the Board Meetings and/or upon request of the Board, the President, or the Executive Committee, and (x) performs all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties that may be assigned by the President or the Board From time to time. Bylaws, § 3.7. The Treasurer also performs the following tasks.
B. Monitors activity in the operating and money market bank accounts (currently at Regions Bank) for cash flow purposes to (i) make sure auto payments are covered, such as the President’s monthly support, (ii) move excess cash in the operating account to the money market account, and (iii) identify and address any potentially fraudulent activity.
C. Monitors activity in the operating bank account for Fidelity donor deposits and Square deposits from online donations through the website and gathers the documentation for the month-end reconciliation. Sets up new donors in the donor database.
D. Receives, copies, records, and deposits donation checks into the bank accounts.
E. Prepares and sends international wire transfers to CRM ministry partners at the President’s request and direction.
F. Prepares and sends Bill-Pay checks to reimburse expenses advanced by the President and/or to pay other CRM bills.
G. Tracks grant funds to make sure the funds are spent for the proper purposes.
H. Deals with the bank—sometimes in person—when, for example, more than ten (10) wire transfers are made in any given month.
I. Sets up auto debits for credit card payments of CRM expenses and monitors such payments. Gathers emails from the President for the reconciliation of the prior month’s income and expenses.
J. Updates and maintains documentation in various electronic folders and paper files for the monthly reconciliations and for the outside CPA firm (currently Romeo & Wiggins in Cary, NC; principal contact: Angela Goodwin).
K. Reconciles operating and money market bank accounts with copies to the file for the outside CPA firm.
L. Works with Romeo & Wiggins to plan and carry out the annual compilation, including preparing, compiling, and providing supporting documents and information, reviewing multiple drafts of the CRM financial statements and corresponding notes, participating in multiple Zoom conference calls, and answering questions as they arise.
M. Prepares and sends annual donor tax letters via regular mail and/or email on or before January 31 of each year.
N. Prepares and transmits IRS Forms 1099 to various recipients and IRS Form 1096 to the IRS on or before January 31 of each year.
O. Works with Romeo & Wiggins to prepare IRS Form 990, including preparing and providing supporting documents and information, reviewing multiple drafts, participating in multiple Zoom conference calls, and answering questions as they arise. (due date is May 15 of each year, which typically is extended).
P. Files the CRM Annual Report online with the Tennessee Secretary of State by April 1 of each year.
Q. Renews CRM’s Registration as a Charitable Organization online with the Tennessee Secretary of State by June 30 of each year (after the Form 990 is prepared because it must be uploaded).
A. The Secretary (i) takes and keeps the minutes of the Board Meetings, Executive Committee meetings, and such other meetings as required by the Board from time to time, in both electronic and hard copy form, (ii) ensures that all notices are duly given as required by these Bylaws or by law, (iii) oversees the custody of CRM corporate records, (iv) oversees the custody of CRM’s official seal, (v) ensures that CRM’s seal is affixed to all documents as required by these Bylaws or by law, the execution of which on behalf of CRM under its seal is duly authorized pursuant to these Bylaws, (vi) keeps a register of the names, addresses, and contact information of all Officers, Directors, Committee members, and donors, (vii) keeps on file at all times complete copies of the CRM Charter and current CRM Bylaws containing all amendments thereto (which shall always be open to the inspection of any Director), and at CRM’s expense, forwards copies of the Bylaws and their amendments, if any, to each Director (upon request), and (viii) performs all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties that may be assigned by the President or the Board from time to time. Bylaws, § 3.8.
B. Administers CRM’s Conflict of Interest Policy on an annual basis.
A. Manages CRM’s business and affairs, exercising all the powers of the organization. Bylaws, § 2.1.
B. Duty of Care. Carefully and thoughtfully guides CRM by ensuring prudent use of all assets, including donated funds, grant funds, people, and goodwill.
C. Duty of Loyalty. Ensures that CRM’s activities and transactions are, first and foremost, advancing its mission; recognizes and discloses conflicts of interest; and makes decisions in CRM’s best interests and not in the best interests of the individual board member (or any other individual or for-profit entity).
D. Duty of Obedience. Ensures that CRM obeys applicable laws and regulations, follows its own Bylaws, adheres to the CRM Board Member Code of Conduct, and adheres to CRM’s stated corporate purposes and mission.
E. Actively participates in setting policies and providing leadership and strategic direction to guide CRM on its mission.
F. Secures adequate resources and funding to support CRM’s activities and initiatives by directly donating to CRM and/or securing donations and/or grants from other sources.
G. Monitors CRM’s performance and ensures accountability to stakeholders, including donors and grant making institutions.
H. Stays informed about issues related to CRM’s mission and seek opportunities for personal and organizational growth.
Provides guidance to CRM by contributing to the organization’s culture, strategic focus, effectiveness, and financial sustainability, as well as serving as CRM’s ambassador and advocate.
I. Provides guidance to CRM by contributing to the organization’s culture, strategic focus, effectiveness, and financial sustainability, as well as serving as CRM’s ambassador and advocate.
A. Annually reviews Officer and Board composition, skill gaps, and upcoming vacancies.
B. Maintains a list of potential Officer and Director candidates.
C. Oversees nomination, vetting, and onboarding process.
A. Location of files and key organizational information. All CRM files and key organization information shall be maintained by the President in a Dropbox account (or similar cloud-based storage facility) (the “Permanent File”). The documents and information maintained in the Permanent File include, without limitation:
1. Financial, accounting, and tax return records, receipts, and related documentation, by year.
2. CRM credit card records, receipts, and related documentation, by year.
3. Detailed list of financial and credit card accounts, including names of institutions, account numbers, usernames and passwords, email addresses and/or telephone numbers tied to such accounts, and names of account contacts, if any.
4. CRM website login information, including the name and contact information of the current CRM website host.
5. Social media account login information.
6. Login information for all non-financial online accounts, such as, for example, ECFA, Candid, Charity Navigator, Tennessee Secretary of State, and the like, including the names and contact information for any representatives for such accounts.
7. Copies of the current Bylaws, Policies, and other key CRM documents in Word for future editing.
8. Copies of key emails and other correspondence.
9. Copies of all contracts and other agreements.
10. Copies of all legal documents.
11. List of past and current donors (for ongoing engagement and re-engagement).
12. List of monthly newsletter recipients.
13. Documents and information pertaining to current grants (whether funded or applied for), including the (i) names of the grant-making institutions, (ii) login information for the grant-funder portals, (iii) names and contact information of the representatives of such institutions, and (iv) detailed grant uses allowed and reporting requirements.
14. List of current Board members, including addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses.
15. All other documents and information identified by the Officers and/or the Board from time to time for inclusion in the Permanent File.
B. Access to the Permanent File is limited to the President, Treasurer, and Chair of the Governance Committee (and other person(s) approved by the Board). Each year prior to the Spring Board meeting, the President, Treasurer, and Chair of the Governance Committee shall identify documents and information in the Permanent File for deletion, if any, to be presented to, and voted on by, the Board at the Annual Spring Board meeting.
On an annual basis, the Governance Committee shall:
In the event an Officer leaves with little or no advance warning (e.g., he or she (i) is permanently impaired from performing his or her job for a variety of reasons, (ii) resigns, or (iii) is removed pursuant to the Bylaws, the Board Chair will assume interim leadership of CRM (or the President if the Board Chair is the position at issue). The Governance Committee shall convene within twenty (20) days after the Officer leaves office to identify potential Officer replacement candidates to be vetted, nominated, and elected by the Board as soon as possible thereafter.
This Officer and Board Member Succession Plan will be reviewed annually by the Governance Committee. Lessons learned from transitions will inform updates to this Plan.
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Approved and adopted by the CRM Board of Directors on April 23, 2026.
