Each year In Counsel With Women welcomes a new class of executive women to membership. Nominations are accepted from January to mid-April, and invitations are extended in July. Annual dues are $400.

To apply for membership to In Counsel With Women, individuals who meet the Selection Guidelines (see below) must be nominated by a member. It is the full responsibility of the nominated candidate to ensure that a complete package is submitted to the office of In Counsel With Women.

Click to see the application form and fact sheet (all in PDF format). Candidates need to submit a completed application form, resume, a nomination letter from an In Counsel member, and two letters of recommendation—one of which must be from an In Counsel With Women member; the second can be from another member or prominent leader in the community.

Current members: See the Members Only section for a renewal invoice.

Selection Guidelines for In Counsel With Women Membership

We seek women who are top leaders, including:

• Leaders in their organization
• Leaders in their field
• Leaders in civic and community activities
• Leaders with established and meaningful spheres of influence

For candidates employed by public companies or large enterprises (annual revenues $500 million and above), women who:

• Occupy an executive position within two reporting positions from the chairman, CEO or managing partner
• Have broad strategic responsibility and at least 7 years of leadership experience
• Have an established and meaningful sphere of influence as demonstrated by interaction with senior leaders in the community

For candidates employed by a small or midsize company (annual revenues under $500 million), women who:

• Direct the business or report directly to the CEO
• Have broad strategic responsibility and at least 7 years of leadership experience
• Are in a business with minimum annual revenues of at least $1 million with significant clients and a demonstrated growth record
• Have an established and meaningful sphere of influence as demonstrated by interaction with senior leaders in the community

For candidates employed by a professional services firm, women who:

• Are partners or equivalent
• Have broad strategic responsibility and at least 7 years of leadership/partnership experience
• Have an established and meaningful sphere of influence as demonstrated by interaction with senior leaders in the community

For candidates employed in the nonprofit sector, women who:

• Are executive directors or equivalent
• Have broad strategic responsibility and at least 7 years of leadership experience
• Oversee a budget of $5 million or greater
• Have an established and meaningful sphere of influence as demonstrated by interaction with senior leaders in the community

For candidates self-employed as consultants, women who:

• Direct the business full time
• Have broad strategic responsibility and at least 7 years of leadership experience
• Are in a business with minimum annual revenue of $250,000 with significant clients
• Have an established and meaningful sphere of influence as demonstrated by interaction with senior leaders in the community

Other factors considered:

• Is the candidate considered a leader in her organization, industry, and community?
• Is the candidate's organization a leader in its industry?
• Do the candidate's peers consider her pre-eminent?
• Is the candidate's firm a sustainable concern?
• Will the candidate contribute to a diverse membership?
• Is the candidate committed to active participation in In Counsel With Women programs?
• Will the candidate enrich In Counsel With Women membership?
• Has the candidate demonstrated support of other women?

In Counsel With Women would like to thank The Cleveland Foundation for its support of this website.

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