Nuru Board Member

Organizational Mission

Nuru is on a mission to build resilience and unlock the economic potential of 1 million farmers in partnership with local communities in fragile regions of East Africa, West Africa, and Central America by 2030.

Nuru establishes locally-led nonprofits which work to eradicate extreme poverty and unlock economic potential in rural farmer communities. This goal is achieved by transitioning vulnerable smallholder farmers from subsistence to professionalized farming as a business. While Nuru staff technically work for separate and distinct locally-run organizations based in various countries, we all operate under a shared vision to cultivate lasting meaningful choices in the most vulnerable and marginalized communities in the world. 

Nuru has 19 employees who remotely support over one hundred total staff within the following locally-led organizations: Nuru Burkina Faso, Nuru Ethiopia, Nuru Ghana, Nuru Kenya, Nuru Niger, and Nuru Nigeria.

Position Description

The Nuru Board is the governing body, legally and ethically accountable for the health and effectiveness of the U.S. registered 501(c)(3) entity.

The board ensures that the organization achieves its mission in an ethical, transparent, accountable, and prudent manner. They provide vision and leadership in the development of long-range plans and achievement of resource development goals for the organization. The board works in partnership with the Nuru CEO & team who manage day-to-day operations.

Nuru board members meaningfully contribute to the organization by providing the following:

Leadership, Vision, and Governance

• Establish and be accountable for the mission, vision, and values of the organization
• Ensure that effective long-term and annual organizational planning, budgeting, and assessment is done and implemented, including integration into the plans and processes of board and committees
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and management team as they implement Nuru’s strategic plan
• Establish and adhere to policies related to the governance of the organization. Review periodically and advise revisions as necessary
• Serve and take leadership roles on committees or task forces and take on special assignments as needed
• Represent Nuru to stakeholders, act as an ambassador and advocate for the organization
• Select, support, and participate in annual performance assessment of the CEO
• Plan for, recruit and orient new board members and assess board performance
• Ensure Nuru’s commitment to a diverse board and staff that reflects the communities Nuru serves
• Assess the performance of the organization, the board, and your own participation as a board member on a regular basis

Compliance, Fiduciary, and Oversight

• Oversee in partnership with the CEO the operations, finances, and investments of the organization
• Stay informed of, ensure, and maintain accountability for the organization’s legal, regulatory, ethical and fiduciary responsibilities and integrity at the federal, state, and local levels as it relates to the nonprofit sector and work funded abroad
• Understand and approve Nuru’s annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions 
• Adhere to the code of ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality policies and all other applicable organizational policies
• Guide and protect the financial resources of the organization to achieve goals as established
• Ensure prudent investment of the organization’s assets for current needs and long-term plans
• Review investment performance regularly and approve any revisions to the investment policy as advised by the investment committee

Fundraising / Resource Development

• Provide leadership, support, and action in helping the organization raise its annual budget
• Make Nuru a philanthropic priority and contribute towards achieving 100 percent board giving, meaning all board members contribute a gift meaningful to them
• Leverage additional resources for the organization, actively raising funds from personal and professional networks
• Help identify other individuals, corporate and other types of sponsorships and funding opportunities for the organization
• Participate in annual fundraising initiatives with the goal of expanding Nuru’s reach to new audiences to build the organization’s resources
• Partner with leadership to recruit, nominate, onboard new board members and donors

In addition to the above, Nuru is actively seeking new members to fill the following board roles:

Board Administrator:

• Develop and drive board processes & systems
• Lead board recruitment process
• Develop board trainings and education 
• Support Board Chair, communication and board meeting logistics 
• Previous board administration preferred but not required

Philanthropic Advisor:

• Donor advised fund experience preferred
• Expert in coaching and connection-making 
• Advise on how to pitch Nuru’s story to specific audiences
• Excited to leverage network, relationships, and make introductions

Board Term 

Board Members are appointed for an initial term of one year. This represents a trial period permitting new members to confirm their interest, fit and commitment to the board. At the end of this period, the members’ participation and contributions will be reviewed. Subsequent terms of service are for three years, with members eligible for re-appointment one additional time, for a total service term of 7 years. 

Board Participation 

Members are expected to attend all of the quarterly meetings (4 total) each year and carefully review board materials prior to each meeting. Meetings are typically held remotely and dates are set one year in advance. If the situation necessitates, other meetings may be called to discuss matters of great importance prior to the next board meeting. 

• Review Nuru’s bylaws and governance requirements and ensure the highest legal, ethical, and fiscal standards when representing Nuru
• Complete and adhere to annual board giving and conflict of interest forms in a timely manner
• Participate in Nuru advocacy and outreach efforts as appropriate
• Service on Nuru’s Board of Directors is without remuneration

Qualifications

• Passion and eagerness to actively further Nuru’s mission
• Embodiment of the Nuru values (see below) both on a personal level and as part of the Nuru team:
• Adaptive. We see great challenges as opportunities. We approach them with nimble flexibility, anticipating changing circumstances.
• Resilient. We don’t back down from ever- evolving obstacles. We’re here, we’ve been here, and we’re committed to achieving our mission.
• Fail Fast, Learn Faster. We push ourselves to do better. We act intentionally and innovate to move beyond boundaries. We confront failure to optimize our efficiency and impact.
• Local Leadership. We value our diversity and understand that no two communities are the same. Local expertise equips us to customize our actions to achieve deeper and long- lasting results.
• Interest in contributing innovative ideas, expertise, and ability to enhance organizational effectiveness and impact; (areas of functional expertise currently seeking include but are not limited to finance/investment, board administration, sustainability, strategy, innovation …)
• Commitment to gender and racial equity
• Collaborative and collegial work style
• Objectivity and fairness in decision-making
• Understand and respect the role of the staff versus the board
• Ability to contribute time and financial resources as detailed above
• Willingness to engage personal and professional networks and support fundraising efforts
• Enthusiasm to advocate for organizational priorities
• Willingness to engage in educational opportunities related to organization governance
• Candidates reflecting a range of identities including women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities and members of other marginalized communities

Board Members can expect

• Thoughtful onboarding regarding Nuru’s model for addressing extreme poverty, Nuru’s history, current status and future plans
• A commitment to respect your time and to maximize the value that you contribute to the organization
• Notification of meeting dates as early as possible
• Important information including meeting materials, financial reports, and Nuru events shared in a timely manner so board members can make informed decisions
• Staff support for any committee work
• Resources and support to perform well in your role and responsibilities
• The opportunity to work as part of a cooperative and creative group to make a difference in the world

To Apply

Please send your CV to Nuru CEO, aerie.changala@iamnuru.org, outlining your interest and how your experience meets the qualifications for the role. Thank you!