Board Member

About the LCU Fund for Women’s Education

Founded in 1858, the LCU Fund is a private, nonprofit foundation based in New York City. The mission of the LCU Fund is to clear the path for low-income women to complete college by helping them pay their rent. We award grants to colleges or universities within the five boroughs of New York City who in turn disburse grants to selected scholars based on our student eligibility criteria.

Since 2001, the LCU Fund has distributed over $15M to nearly 3,000 students across 35 institutions. On average, 150 students are funded annually with an allocation of $6,000 per scholar.

The LCU Fund is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and managed by a full-time Executive Director.

The Opportunity

The LCU Fund seeks new Board members who will actively work to leverage their leadership skills for the benefit of the foundation and advance the goal of mitigating housing as a barrier to college-completion for low-income scholars.

Each Board member is responsible for representing the foundation well, being an active participant in our work, serving as an ambassador; assisting with the setting of foundation policies; and ensuring the financial health of the foundation through fiscal oversight and support of fundraising efforts. In addition, Board Members serve a critical role in assisting the leadership of the foundation in making critical decisions regarding the foundation’s future.

Based on the organizational needs of the Fund, applicants with the following professional experience and skills will be prioritized:

·      Communications (print, digital, social media)

·      Law (knowledge of New York State non-profit law a plus)

·      Finance and investments

Specific Commitments

·      ​Time and dedication. Being a member of the Board of Directors will require, on average, 6 to 8 hours per month.

·      Active participation and physical attendance. Board members are expected to attend Board meetings (about 5 per year), as well as retreats, special events, committee meetings (often conducted as conference calls) and grantee school site visits. Meetings generally take place in and around Manhattan. Please note that due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, meetings are held remotely at this time.

·      Financial Support. It is expected that each Board member will prioritize the LCU Fund in their charitable giving by contributing a minimum target of $1,250 through direct contributions and solicitation of others.