Seeking Nominations for Belfast Community Co-op’s Board of Directors
Nominations for the 2026 election are open until November 15, 2025.
Since 1976, the Co-op has been integral in Belfast and Waldo County: serving the community, expanding its outreach, responding to the shifting natural foods landscape, and highlighting local vendors and producers. The Belfast Community Co-op is the culmination of hard work and a deep sense of purpose sprung out of the grassroots effort by 1970s-era back-to-the-landers seeking access to good food at a fair price: a unifying story among food co-ops across the country. We are proud to be an anchor of downtown Belfast for 49 years and with your help, we will continue to thrive here for many more decades to come.
Our Co-op serves more than 6,000 co-op owners and provides secure employment for 80+ dedicated local workers. Local farmers and producers in Waldo County rely on us as a year-round storefront to sell their fresh produce, local cheeses, fresh meats, and more. Along with 5,000 other food co-ops across the country, our Co-op has been successfully adapting to the ever-changing landscape of the natural food market. With the strong leadership of our General Manager and dedication of our workers, we continue to keep our shelves stocked by featuring local producers and widening our net of distribution companies. Although our world continues to change in unforeseeable ways, our financial situation is strong and we remain a vital anchor for downtown Belfast, Waldo County, and our local and regional food systems.
Join us as a steward of the Co-op and its mission, keeping the Co-op at the heart of the greater Belfast Community. The Co-op Board of Directors play a critical role in ensuring the continued success of the Co-op by setting the standards and policies for the Co-op’s performance and promoting the Co-op’s values and vision. Serving on the Board is challenging, rewarding, and offers valuable benefits to our greater Belfast Community.
Our dedicated owners are at the heart of our business; our Co-op is a democratically governed and community-owned business that strives to be an inclusive cooperative enterprise. The Board, representing the owners, continually works with the General Manager in assessing our ongoing needs and future projects.
This year, up to seven seats on the Board are up for election. We seek candidates to be part of an active Board that is as broadly diverse as the member-owners we are elected to represent. We hope to elect new Board members that possess diverse experiences and talents, bringing new ideas and perspectives to our conversations and decision-making.
View or download our PDF candidate package here, including the application form and information to help you better understand the role of a Board member. Candidates begin the nomination process by submitting the application form (or completing the online version through Google Forms: 2026 Board Nomination Application) by November 15, 2025. Candidate statements collected with the application will be circulated to owners prior to the election. Candidates are expected to introduce themselves to Co-op owners at the Annual Meeting in March 2026.
Thank you again for your interest. We look forward to hearing from you!
Cooperatively yours,
Belfast Community Co-op Board of Directors
✔ Director Nomination Application Form
Applicants are required to fully complete an application form. Complete the online Google form: 2026 Board Nomination Application or download the Nomination PDF packet and file it in person at the Co-op Service Desk, send by regular mail, or deliver by email to board@belfast.coop, no later than Thursday, November 15, 2025.
✔ Meeting with Assigned Board Member Contact
Each applicant will be assigned a current Board Member to act as a contact and resource for information about Board procedures and election procedures before February 1, 2026.
✔ Attendance at two (2) upcoming Board Meetings
We require applicants to attend, in full, at least two regular monthly Board meetings prior to February 1, 2026. For more information, please visit: Board of Directors – Belfast Community Co-op. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for the following dates on this page: belfast.coop/monthly-board-meeting/
✔ Board Candidate Orientation to Board Operations Session
We require applicants to attend a 2 hour Board Candidate Orientation Session, scheduled for January 6, 2026.
✔ Committee Meetings (suggested)
We strongly encourage (but do not require) applicants to attend a Board committee meeting to get a better understanding of the work the Board does through its standing committees. Send an email to any of the addresses below to confirm committee meeting dates and for more information about each committee.
- Owner Engagement Committee: ownercomm@belfast.coop
- Finance Committee: fincomm@belfast.coop
- Board Development Committee: bdcomm@belfast.coop
- Strategic Work Committee: board@belfast.coop
Do you have more Questions about Elections or Board Service?
- Contact Board Development Committee: bdcomm@belfast.coop
