About our Organization
Seeing Our Adolescents Rise (SOAR) is a Denver- based nonprofit supporting adolescents and families who have been impacted by trauma, adversity, or justice system involvement. We help adolescents build resilience and stability with access to therapy, coaching, and experiential learning programs designed to help them thrive.
Our work integrates:
- Mental health support
- Coaching and mentoring
- Outdoor and adventure-based learning
- Community connection and skill-building
- Wraparound support for caregivers to improve youth outcomes
Mission:
To encourage adolescents to invest in their future, helping them to become responsible and motivated advocates for their life.
Who We Serve:
We are a community-based organization servicing youth between 7-19 years of age in the Denver Metro area.
Responsibilities of the Board:
- Ensure effective planning
- Support and evaluate the chief executive
- Ensure adequate financial resources
- Provide financial oversight
- Build a competent board
- Ensure legal and ethical integrity
- Enhance the organization's public standing
- Monitor and strengthen programs and services
Board Member Responsibilities
Board members are expected to provide strategic leadership, governance, and advocacy in support of SOAR’s mission. Key responsibilities include:
- Maintain a strong understanding of SOAR’s mission, vision, programs, and policies
- Stay informed on trends and issues impacting the nonprofit sector and the communities served
- Uphold fiduciary responsibilities, including financial oversight and strategic decision-making
- Adhere to bylaws and policies, including conflict of interest and confidentiality standards
- Ensure compliance with organizational policies and governance practices
- Serve on at least one committee or task force and contribute to special projects as needed
- Support fundraising efforts through donor engagement, relationship-building, and participation in events and personal contributions
- Serve as an ambassador for SOAR, promoting its mission and impact in professional and community settings
Treasurer Responsibilities
- Maintain a strong understanding of SOAR’s mission, vision, programs, and policies
- Chairs the Finance and Audit Committee and prepares agendas for meetings, including a year-long calendar of issues and works with the Executive Director to ensure that appropriate financial reports are made available to the Board on a timely basis.
- Manages, with the Finance and Audit Committee, the board's review of, and action related to, the board's financial responsibilities. May work directly with the accounting service or other staff in developing and implementing financial procedures and systems.
- Assists the Executive Director and Finance and Audit Committee in preparing the annual budget and fiscal policies, and presenting the budget to the Board for approval.
- Works with the Finance Committee and the Executive Director to develop long-term financial strategies
- Keeps currently informed of legal, regulatory and sector developments relating to the Board’s financial responsibilities.
- Recommends to the board whether the organization should have an audit. If so, selects and meets annually with the auditor in conjunction with the Finance and Audit Committee..
- Ensures, through the Finance and Audit Committee, sound management and maximization of cash and investments.
- Adhere to bylaws and policies, including conflict of interest and confidentiality standards
- Support fundraising efforts through donor engagement, relationship-building, and participation in events and personal contributions
- Serve as an ambassador for SOAR, promoting its mission and impact in professional and community settings
Desired Qualifications
- A commitment to an understanding of the communities served by SOAR
- Background in finance, accounting, or related field (e.g., CPA, CFO, or strong financial management experience)
- Ability to read and interpret financial statements, budgets, and audits
- Understanding of nonprofit financial regulations, compliance, and fiduciary responsibilities
- Strong analytical skills and accuracy in reviewing financial reports and processes
- High ethical standards and commitment to transparency and stewardship of funds
- Ability to contribute to financial planning, sustainability, and risk management
- Comfort with financial systems, reporting tools, and internal controls
- Availability to attend board meetings, chair finance-related discussions, and collaborate with staff, accountants and auditors
- Comfortable “rolling up your sleeves” to support planning, events, fundraising and advocacy initiatives
- Willingness to serve as an ambassador and advocate with your network
Preferred: Prior nonprofit board experience and/or experience working with budgets, audits, or financial oversight committees.
Term
Three years, which may be renewed up to a maximum of three consecutive terms, pending approval of the board.
Time Commitments
Serving on the SOAR Board of Directors is a meaningful and active commitment. Board members should plan to dedicate a minimum of 4 to 6 hours per month or approximately 12 to 18 hours per quarter to board-related activities. This estimate reflects the baseline expectation and does not account for additional time that may be required during peak periods supporting events or planning. All board members are required to attend at least 75% of board and committee meetings and organizational events that happen in a year which are typically 3-4 meetings or events per month.
Board Dues
Each board member is required to pay annual dues to support the operational expenses of SOAR which are currently set at $25 per month.