Applying for Individual Membership

• Overview
• Membership
• Term
  Membership
• Nominators &
  Seconders
• Rules &
  Regulations
• Deadlines &
  Notifications
• Application
  Reactivation

Information for Nominators and Seconders

Overview

Candidates are responsible for securing their nominators and seconders. CFR relies on its members to identify and nominate or second diverse leaders in international affairs as candidates for membership. All letter writers are advised to commit themselves to supporting only those candidates they know personally. The first paragraph of nominating and seconding letters must include a clear and comprehensive statement about the nature of the relationship between the candidate and the letter writer. Thoughtful, candid, and succinct comments are far more important than formal endorsements of candidates. It is recommended that at least one letter come from a current or former professional colleague.

Nominating Letters

Candidates must be nominated in writing by a current CFR member. Nominating letters should be no more than five hundred words in length and should address the following criteria, which have always been central to the committee's consideration of membership candidates:

• intellectual attainment and expertise;
• degree of experience, interest, and current involvement in international affairs or in other areas affecting international affairs;
• promise of future achievement and service in foreign relations;
• potential contributions to the work of CFR;
• desire and ability to participate in CFR activities; and
• standing among his or her peers.

Seconding Letters

Seconding letters need not be as comprehensive (no more than three hundred words) and are not required to come from current CFR members, though it is strongly recommended. Writers are encouraged to state why the candidate should be considered for CFR membership based on the above criteria with an emphasis on "standing among his or her peers." Seconding letters should also provide relevant information that might not be included in a candidate's CV or in the nominating letter.

Guidelines and Rules

• All letters should be submitted electronically; once a candidate enters a letter writer’s information into part three of the online application, letter writers are automatically emailed instructions to securely post the letter to the candidate’s application.
• The Committee on Membership advises members to write no more than two letters per round (either one nominating and one seconding letter or two seconding letters).
• Officers of CFR as well as members of the Board of Directors and Committee on Membership are precluded from nominating or writing seconding letters on any candidate's behalf.
• Members of the Subcommittee on Term Membership are precluded from nominating or writing seconding letters on behalf of candidates for term membership.
• A spouse, close relative (e.g., parent, sibling, cousin, or the like), or near in-law of a candidate may not formally nominate or second that candidate for membership.
• Members should refrain from writing on behalf of clients.
• Letter writers are encouraged to make comparative judgments about candidates where appropriate.
• Letters will only be visible to the selection committees and relevant CFR staff.

For more information, please contact Membership at +1.212.434.9456 or applications@cfr.org.