Centers for Opportunity Board Member Vacancy Notice/Call for Volunteers

Have you ever met someone struggling and not known how to help? Have you seen someone without shelter on the street? Have you known someone struggling with mental illness or substance use disorder? Have you ever been that someone needing help and now want to give back? Centers for Opportunity has a way you can make a difference!

By joining the Centers for Opportunity’s Board of Directors as a volunteer Director, you can help those challenged by mental illness, substance use disorder, homelessness, or food insecurity. The description below explains how you might be able to take your leadership experience and apply it to help others.

Centers for Opportunity (CFO) offers a broad range of peer support and related services in the Northern Virginia area to individuals coping with mental health challenges, dealing with substance use disorder or experiencing homelessness. We offer community referrals, peer support groups, one-on-one peer support, employment assistance, computer labs, Wi-Fi, landline phone access, recreational therapy, socialization, and more, at five CFO centers across northern Virginia. We support ~9,000 adults across Northern Virginia annually.

CFO’s mission, its focus in the health & human services arena, the demographics of its beneficiary population, and its firm commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion encourage us to seek potential Board members who: have a strong commitment to the amelioration and treatment of mental health challenges and substance use disorder; can represent persons of color (especially women); and may be peers in recovery. For more information, please visit our website www.centersforopportunity.org

We are looking for multiple Board Directors to include: * Candidates who have business experience in nonprofit leadership/management and development or technical assistance programs (specific support to nonprofits to improve specialized services and skills). * Candidates who have a background in delivering community-based services, outreach into communities of need, and experience supporting individuals with mental health challenges or substance use disorder. Peers in recovery are also encouraged to apply. Backgrounds in clinical psychology, education and social work are of particular interest.

• Candidates who are experienced in Event Management, Community Outreach, Marketing, Development and Fundraising. *Candidates with Finance, Audit or Accounting Background particularly in the nonprofit world.

CFO Board Member Roles and Responsibilities

Overall:

Board Member positions are important executive leadership roles; are volunteer positions, with a two-year term; and require an average commitment of 3-6 hours of service per month, depending on your role. Our goal is also to build a diverse Board of Directors. We require residence in the WashingtonDC metropolitan area. The CFO Board meets virtually every month and holds one in-person annually in the Northern Virginia area.

Roles:

• Board members support and further develop the mission, goals, and policies of the organization, help management evaluate and assign priorities, and encourage CFO in the way we conduct ourselves.
• Members help guide management’s development of long-range plans and CFO’s strategy.
• Members help maintain CFO’s integrity, independence, and ideals.
• Members support and guide CFO’s Executive Director in managing strategic priorities, operations, development and fund-raising.
• Members exercise fiduciary responsibility and retain broad oversight over the Executive Director and the management team, especially with respect to budgets, operating and financial results, audits for compliance with internal policies, and external requirements, and performance against goals.

Responsibilities:

• Be committed to the mission, goals, and policies of the organization.
• Attend board meetings and contribute experience and expertise as it relates to the organization. Commit to at least one in-person Board meeting per year.
• Perform the functions and work of the board to the best of one’s ability.
• Recommend others who could serve on the board or be of value to the organization in other capacities.
• Avoid any conflicts of interest and situations that would compromise the principles of the organization or lead to the perception of compromise.
• Be knowledgeable about the organization, the services it provides, and the community in which it operates.

How To Apply: All interested parties are encouraged to self-nominate for volunteer membership on our Board of Directors. Please submit a cover letter and resume that includes why you are interested, your specific skills and experiences that are relevant to CFO, and your availability and level of commitment. Applications can be submitted to: CFOBoard@CentersforOpportunity.org and will be accepted until 21 November 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered. We look forward to hearing from you!