Seeking Board Members with Financial Experience

Board of Directors Job Description

Performing Arts Workshop is a nonprofit organization established in 1965 with a mission to help young people develop critical thinking, creative expression, and essential learning skills through anti-racist focused arts programs. Since its founding, Performing Arts Workshop (the Workshop) has made an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of San Francisco by providing training in the arts to children, youth and adults. The Workshop’s Board of Directors is the custodian of this extraordinary institution and has the ultimate responsibility for its well being and effectiveness.  

As a member of the Board of Directors of Performing Arts Workshop, you are an essential and important link to the organization. We are currently seeking candidates with financial interest and experience to join our Board of Directors in order to provide insights into our Organization’s budget, expenses, audit processes, and overall financial longevity. By committing to serve on the Board, you are expected to execute the stewardship, governance, and fiduciary responsibility of a board member; to work in good faith with the staff and other board members as partners toward achievement of the Workshop’s goals, mission, and strategic plan; and to exercise power as a corporate body, but not as an individual member. The Workshop’s commitment to you is to make your board experience rewarding and enjoyable and to help you exercise your special skills and talents each year for 4,300 youth in our programs.

Type of Board: Fiduciary/governing (legally responsible for the organization)

Directors & Officers Insurance: Yes

Meeting Locations: San Francisco District 11 - currently via zoom from 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Meeting schedule: quarterly, Monday Sept 14, 2020; Wednesday Dec 9, 2020; Wednesday March 10, 2021; and Wednesday June 9, 2021.

Hours of commitment per month:  5 - 6 average

The following are specific expectations of each individual board member:

1. Leadership: Possess an interest in the mission and goals of the Workshop. Become familiar with the Workshop programs and anti-racist framework and attend at least one program/event each year beyond the board meetings. Commit to an active leadership role in the ongoing support of the organization’s mission and programs and anti-racism work.    
2. Policy Administration: Responsible for ensuring that the organization operates within its adopted by-laws. Legal responsibility, along with the other Board members, for the organization, which includes recommending and approving all policies determining the purpose, governing principles, functions and activities of the organization and overseeing their implementation. Act in the best interest of the Workshop and, if necessary, excuse yourself from discussions and votes for which you may have a conflict of interest. In order to secure the vision of Performing Arts Workshop, members must be willing to participate in long-range planning. 
3. Public and Community Relations: Represent and serve as an ambassador for the Workshop by acting as a spokesperson, and communicating our mission, work, and values to your (and our) communities.
4. Finance: Approve and monitor the budget. Monitor operations expenditures to comply with the budget. Review annual audit. 
5. Fundraising: Make a personal, annual contribution that is significant to you and commensurate with your financial ability. Understand that it is the function of the board member to identify prospects, and assist in individual donor and institutional donor (government, private, corporate grants) evaluation, cultivation, and solicitation processes. Attend, support, and assist in fundraising for special events. Volunteer and attend the annual Student Showcase. Share resources and talents with the organization, including professional expertise and contacts for financial support and in-kind donations.
6. Board Development: Participate in the identification, recruitment, and development of board members, as well as advisory and committee members. Identify individuals for involvement with the Workshop to expand the demographic profile in terms of ethnic composition, age, profession, funding sources, and personal contacts.
7. Attendance: Attend all quarterly meetings of the board and board committees. This includes board meetings, a fall and spring retreat and service on at least one committee. The usual time commitment for board participation is 5 - 6 hours per month. Board terms are three years, renewable for a second term.
8. Orientation: All members will receive comprehensive orientation in all aspects of the organization and onboarding process to include anti-racism framework and advocacy.