NONPROFIT (VOLUNTEER) BOARD OF DIRECTOR POSITION

The mission of Bridging the Gap Africa (BtGA) is to build safe and reliable pedestrian footbridges that prevent accidental drownings and ensure uninterrupted access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for rural African communities, predominantly in Kenya.

Let’s explore why we build bridges. Here are our core values and goals:

• • Safety - prevent accidental drownings and create safe passageways
  • Access - connect communities to resources like schools, healthcare, and trade markets
  • Empowerment - involve communities in bridge building to develop agency and skills

THE ORGANIZATION

We have a simple purpose - build bridges to transform lives. BtGA was started by Harmon Parker, a dedicated humanitarian driven by a lifelong commitment to making a tangible difference in the world. In 1997, moved by the urgent needs of an isolated Kenyan village, he built his first footbridge, igniting a transformative journey. Since then, BtGA has constructed over 80 life-changing footbridges across rural Kenya, ensuring safe and reliable passage over dangerous rivers for countless communities.

THE INVITATION

While BtGA is a small non-profit organization, it is growing and has doubled the number of bridges it builds each year. This growth has spurred the need for additional board of director members to help steer the organization. BtGA seeks to identify up to four directors it might add to the current board over the next six to twelve months.

Each board member will commit to the following:

• • Serve as a trusted advisor to the founder and various board committee members as they develop and implement BtGA’s strategic plan.
  • Attend all board and committee meetings. Attend functions, such as special events, whenever possible. Board members must attend at least 50% of board meetings to retain their position.
  • Review and approve BtGA’s annual budget and audit reports.
  • Actively participate in the discussion of and vote on material business decisions.
  • Contribute time, talent, and treasure to the organization and continually seek to open doors for additional fundraising opportunities.
  • Stay well-informed about BtGA's mission, programs, policies, and projects.
  • Recruit and recommend possible nominees to the Board who can make significant contributions to the work of BtGA.
  • Review outcomes and metrics created by BtGA for evaluating its impact, and regularly measure its performance and effectiveness using those metrics.
  • Serve on committees or task forces and take on special assignments while occasionally taking on leadership roles.
  • Represent BtGA to stakeholders; act as an ambassador for the organization.

DESIRED EXPERT PROFILES

BtGA desires seasoned executive managers and organizational leaders who bring one or more expert profiles below to join the current board.

Senior Marketing Experts - Organizational marketing leaders who understand B-C and B-B motivations and how to activate a strong brand identity. They have managed sizable marketing teams and are well-versed in digital marketing and user experience (UX).

Corporate Business Leaders - Individuals with significant experience leading teams and organizational functions (e.g., Accounting, Business Development, etc.) at the VP level or above. Experience with multinational operations is preferred.

Corporate Foundation Directors - Leaders with expertise and networks in leading Corporate Foundation activities. These individuals have translated causes into action for the foundation arms of corporate entities through high-impact partnerships with nonprofits, funder networks, and corporations. They have planned fundraising events and can connect mission with funding opportunities.

Impact Funder Networks - Individuals with expertise and reach into philanthropic networks interested in impact investing and venture philanthropy, specifically in Africa. These might come from family offices, significant foundations or Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), or impact funder associations or networks.

African American College Professional Networks - Leaders who are actively involved in African American and/or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) or alumni networks with an affinity for and interest in the future of the African Continent.

Senior Bridge Engineering Experts – Leaders in the bridge engineering community with expertise in managing bridge building projects from a strategic, financial, and functional perspective. They have managed large teams and numerous bridge-building and infrastructure projects.

Commitment & Board Service

This is a non-paid, volunteer board position. We expect board members to dedicate a consistent time commitment (approximately 4-6 hours per month), attend regular board meetings, and actively engage in strategic discussions and committee work. Your service will play a critical role in the success of BtGA.