Program Structure
The Board
Selection Process
To increase the chances of having a dedicated, talented board that genuinely cares about the mission of the grant program more than simply padding a resume, we ask trusted school faculty, current board members, group leaders, nonprofits, and other reliable sources to recommend potential board members to us rather than making the board application publicly available. We suspect that this results in more board members who serve on the board for the full two-year term, communicate regularly with the board, and carry out their committee tasks on time.
To solicit potential new board members, the Board Member Recruitment Committee sends out the “Email – New Board Member Solicitation” to trusted groups and teachers. You have the option of requiring recipients of this email to fill out an official “Board New Member Nomination Form” if they wish to recommend a potential board member. Otherwise, they can simply recommend a person by name and, with the consent of the recommended person, put the board in contact with that person. The board can then send them an invitation email to apply to the board along with the “Board New Member Application” form, the “Board Charter,” and the board meeting schedule for the next year.
The full board and the Board Member Recruitment Committee are also encouraged to think back to especially impressive youth project leaders or adult advisors from funded projects, inviting those individuals to apply for the board as well. If individuals who have not been recommended and have not led a funded projects ask how they can apply for the board, they, too, can be sent the application since they have demonstrated a form of leadership by taking initiative to ask you how to become a part of the program.
Once individuals have applied to the board and the application due date has passed, all applications are sent out to all board members for review. If the current board members feel that more information is needed about one or more applicants before voting occurs, each applicant is invited via the “To Board Applicants – Informal Meeting” email to meet up individually with a few current board members in a public meeting place. At this informal question-and-answer session, board members may ask questions of the applicant and the applicant may ask questions about the board.
At the board meeting following the last informal meeting, the board has the opportunity to discuss the applicants, and a blind vote is taken for each applicant individually. If the majority of the current board is in favor of accepting the applicant onto the board, they are sent the “To Board Applicants – Welcome to the Board” email and are invited to the next board meeting.
If the majority of the board does not vote in favor of the applicant, they can be voted into a liaison position – a position of less responsibility but still allowing the applicant to become involved with spreading the word about the grant program. This position can be fit to the individual applicant and their abilities. For example, if an elementary school student applies for the board but the board is worried about their ability to succeed in carrying out necessary tasks, that student can be given a liaison position, which could involve hanging up posters at their school and reading a short summary of the grant program to their class. If an older applicant is invited to be a liaison, they can be given more responsibilities, as you see fit. The email template “To Board Applicants – Liaison Position Offering” is available for your use.
If the board does not vote in favor of the applicant being either a full board member or a liaison, the board may send them the “To Board Applicants – Application Rejected” email to kindly let them know that the board is unable to offer them a position this year.
Once all applicants have been voted on and sent information about their application decision, each new board member is matched with a more experienced board member of their same age group (youth paired with youth, adults paired with adults) who will serve as their mentor. The mentor will be a resource and general support system, answering any questions the new board member may have and checking in on them periodically to make sure that they feel included.
To increase the chances of having a dedicated, talented board that genuinely cares about the mission of the grant program more than simply padding a resume, we ask trusted school faculty, current board members, group leaders, nonprofits, and other reliable sources to recommend potential board members to us rather than making the board application publicly available. We suspect that this results in more board members who serve on the board for the full two-year term, communicate regularly with the board, and carry out their committee tasks on time.
To solicit potential new board members, the Board Member Recruitment Committee sends out the “Email – New Board Member Solicitation” to trusted groups and teachers. You have the option of requiring recipients of this email to fill out an official “Board New Member Nomination Form” if they wish to recommend a potential board member. Otherwise, they can simply recommend a person by name and, with the consent of the recommended person, put the board in contact with that person. The board can then send them an invitation email to apply to the board along with the “Board New Member Application” form, the “Board Charter,” and the board meeting schedule for the next year.
The full board and the Board Member Recruitment Committee are also encouraged to think back to especially impressive youth project leaders or adult advisors from funded projects, inviting those individuals to apply for the board as well. If individuals who have not been recommended and have not led a funded projects ask how they can apply for the board, they, too, can be sent the application since they have demonstrated a form of leadership by taking initiative to ask you how to become a part of the program.
Once individuals have applied to the board and the application due date has passed, all applications are sent out to all board members for review. If the current board members feel that more information is needed about one or more applicants before voting occurs, each applicant is invited via the “To Board Applicants – Informal Meeting” email to meet up individually with a few current board members in a public meeting place. At this informal question-and-answer session, board members may ask questions of the applicant and the applicant may ask questions about the board.
At the board meeting following the last informal meeting, the board has the opportunity to discuss the applicants, and a blind vote is taken for each applicant individually. If the majority of the current board is in favor of accepting the applicant onto the board, they are sent the “To Board Applicants – Welcome to the Board” email and are invited to the next board meeting.
If the majority of the board does not vote in favor of the applicant, they can be voted into a liaison position – a position of less responsibility but still allowing the applicant to become involved with spreading the word about the grant program. This position can be fit to the individual applicant and their abilities. For example, if an elementary school student applies for the board but the board is worried about their ability to succeed in carrying out necessary tasks, that student can be given a liaison position, which could involve hanging up posters at their school and reading a short summary of the grant program to their class. If an older applicant is invited to be a liaison, they can be given more responsibilities, as you see fit. The email template “To Board Applicants – Liaison Position Offering” is available for your use.
If the board does not vote in favor of the applicant being either a full board member or a liaison, the board may send them the “To Board Applicants – Application Rejected” email to kindly let them know that the board is unable to offer them a position this year.
Once all applicants have been voted on and sent information about their application decision, each new board member is matched with a more experienced board member of their same age group (youth paired with youth, adults paired with adults) who will serve as their mentor. The mentor will be a resource and general support system, answering any questions the new board member may have and checking in on them periodically to make sure that they feel included.
|
|
|
|
|
|
To Board Applicants - Application Rejected | |
File Size: | 11 kb |
File Type: | docx |