Nonprofit Board Officer Board Chair

Position Summary: The Board contributes to the mission of the Drug-Free Youth Coalition by providing mission-based leadership and strategic governance. The Board ensures it carries out its fiduciary duties and fulfills five key roles for the organization: 1) Lead strategically, 2) Ensure financial stability, 3) Be an ambassador, 4) Support and supervise the Executive Director (ED), and 5) Ensure healthy governance.

Major Responsibilities: Each individual board member contributes to the full board in fulfilling its major duties. Some of the work below may be carried out by specific board members or committees, but each individual board member has the responsibility to ensure the full board carries out the following roles and duties:

• Lead Strategically
  • Become knowledgeable about the activities and business of the organization.
  • Help develop and communicate the organization’s strategic direction, goals, and plan.
  • Monitor outcomes related to stated goals and strategies and revise as needed.
  • Assist organizational leadership in anticipating and navigating change.
• Ensure Financial Stability
  • Approve the organization’s annual budget.
  • Regularly review and understand the organization’s financial statements and assess the organization’s financial position; ask questions to improve understanding of the financial statements.
  • Ensure financial reporting requirements are compliant with state regulations, including 990 filings, audits, and registration with the Secretary of State and Attorney General.
• Be An Ambassador
  • Represent the organization in the community. Cultivate relationships from personal and or professional networks that support the organization’s mission.
  • Participate in fundraising efforts.
  • Attend the annual conference and fundraisers, act as an ambassador, and volunteer to assist in activities.
• Support and Supervise the Executive Director
  • Select, set compensation for, and conduct an annual evaluation of the performance of the Executive Director.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to the ED, ensuring they have the moral and professional support they need to further the Drug-Free Youth Coalition’s goals.
  • Ensure an emergency and long-term succession plan is in place for the Executive Director
• Ensure Healthy Governance
  • Recruit and orient new board members. Develop a plan for board succession and officer leadership.
  • Review bylaws and maintain compliance with all legal requirements, conflict of interest policies, and other guiding documents. Review policies annually and update as needed.
  • Partner with the ED to ensure Board resolutions are carried out.
  • Be prepared for and attend all board meetings.
  • Serve on committees or task forces and take on special assignments as needed.
  • Conduct a self-evaluation that allows board members to improve their governance practices.

Board Officer Chair Job Description:

Position summary: The chair of the Drug-Free Youth Coalition’s Board of Directors has all the responsibilities of a board member and leads the overall Board of Directors in fulfilling the board’s roles in governing the organization.

Major Responsibilities:

• Set the tone for the board and serve as a role model for board members.
• Chair meetings of the Board, ensuring meetings are facilitated to encourage effective and equitable participation of board members. If the Chair is unable to attend a board meeting, the Chair arranges for the Vice Chair to facilitate the meeting.
• Chair the Executive Committee.
• Develop board and Executive Committee meeting agendas with the Executive Director.
• Meet regularly with the Executive Director to discuss issues confronting the organization and to serve as a thought partner with the Executive Director.
• Helps guide and mediate Board actions with respect to organizational priorities and governance concerns.
• Appoint the chairpersons of committees, in consultation with other Board members.
• Serve as ex officio as a member of committees and attend their meetings when invited.
• Work with the Executive Director to ensure a flow of information to and from the Board.
• Ensure the board conducts an annual performance evaluation of the Executive Director and the board’s effectiveness in carrying out its roles.
• Perform other responsibilities assigned by the Board.

Length of Term: Two years, which may be renewed for one additional two-year term if the officer is still eligible to serve on the board, pending approval of the board. Officers may be re-elected to the position after taking off at least one term from the officer role.

Time Commitment: Three hours per month on average in addition to the time committed for general board duties (3-4 hours), for a total board commitment of 6-7 hours per month.