Member, Board of Directors (unpaid, volunteer role)

Applications open: March 24 - April 21, 2026

Application form

CalWild (formerly the California Wilderness Coalition) is a 50-year-old nonprofit that organizes and advocates for permanent protection and responsible management of California’s natural landscapes and waterways for present and future generations. We are seeking passionate and committed candidates to join our volunteer Board of Directors.

What We Do

CalWild works to ensure that California’s wild places—and the communities connected to them—thrive together. We believe lasting conservation requires both ecological protection and social equity. We advocate for federal and state policies that safeguard biodiversity, expand responsible access to nature, and address historic inequities in who benefits from public lands. Our theory of change centers on building diverse coalitions, shaping equitable land use policy, and empowering diverse communities to advocate for landscapes that are protected, resilient, inclusive, and sustainably managed for future generations.

Our Board

Serving on the CalWild Board of Directors is a commitment to California’s public lands; to the communities who live, work, play in, and are historically tied to California’s public lands; to our dedicated staff; and to each other. We value a culture of connection, collaboration, and mutual support. Our Directors are part of a highly talented, engaged team.

Board Term and Commitments

Board members serve three-year terms by fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) and may seek multiple terms.

Core Responsibilities:

• Participate in fundraising and help grow financial resources
• Expand CalWild’s network and visibility
• Provide strategic guidance and oversight
• Help shape organizational policies and priorities
• Monitor finances, programs, and overall organizational performance
• Oversee and evaluate Executive Director
• Proactively contribute skills, knowledge, and experience
• Embrace diverse perspectives on a wide range of issues

Minimum Expected Commitments:

• Attend six regular Board meetings per year: five 90-minute virtual meetings every other month and one in-person meeting that may require self-funded travel within California.
• Review materials and stay informed about CalWild’s work
• Raise or donate $2000 per fiscal year in accordance with CalWild’s Give/Get policy
• Share CalWild communications with personal networks
• Participate in CalWild sponsored trainings — such as fundraising, JEDI, advocacy, and communications — to help advance CalWild’s priorities

Additional opportunities include:

• Serving on one or more Board committees by attending committee meetings, reviewing related materials, providing input, and implementing committee assignments
• Supporting CalWild staff with discrete assignments as appropriate
• Assuming leadership roles in board activities when appropriate

Desired Skills and Experience

We welcome candidates with a wide range of experiences. You do not need to meet every qualification to apply.

Helpful skills and experience include:

• Fundraising experience or willingness to learn
• Community connections, especially with historically underrepresented groups
• Relationships with and willingness to connect CalWild to foundations, corporate partners, and/or high net worth donors
• Experience in finance, social media, marketing, event planning
• Familiarity with conservation, public lands, or environmental issues
• Familiarity with advocacy
• Comfort using tools like Google Workspace, Gchat, and Zoom or willingness to learn
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Willingness to prioritize CalWild’s work
• Prior experience on a nonprofit Board
• Curiosity, a collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset, and a strong sense of humor.

Application Process and Timeline

• To apply, submit the application form and email your resume to admin@calwild.org by 11:59 p.m. April 21, 2026
• Selected candidates will be interviewed on a rolling basis
• Final decisions will be made by May 11
• New Board term begins July 1; first meeting is July 13, 6-7:30 p.m. New Directors will receive additional information and onboarding prior.

For questions, please email admin@calwild.org.