Board Chair N.E.R.D.S (Nurturing Educational Readiness & Development from the Start)
952 Goss Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
Board Chair
| Our board | Duties of all NERDS Board Members: Board members are expected to be fully informed on organizational matters, to contribute todebate on issues and to contribute to the Board’s policy deliberations. They are expected tounderstand and support the NERDS’s mission statement and strategic plan. Board member duties include the following: Attend meetings and show commitment to Board activities; Be well informed on issues and agenda items in advance of meetings; Participate on one or more committees or in an ad hoc manner, as requested by the Board President, Vice-President or Executive Director;Monitor public response to the work and policies of the NERDS Participate in Board orientation meetings to ensure organizational and fund development knowledge and to participate in volunteer and donor recognition events;Provide candid, open and honest feedback and evaluation when appropriate; Take initiative in informing the organization about opportunities for funding or program development;Identify individuals in the community for volunteer participation or funding support; Support the organization and its officers in times of crisis or controversy; Provide sensitivity and support to staff member and other Board members as they perform their duties;Exercise loyalty to the NERDSand respect confidentiality regarding internal affairs; Provide leadership within the Board and in the community on behalf of the NERDS and its programs;Serve as an informal advocate for the NERDSin the community. Although not required for Board membership, members are encouraged to support theNERDS financially, and to assist in the identification and solicitation of potential donors,wherever possible. |
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| Position | Link to MissionNERDS addresses the need for more focused efforts in giving underprivileged and underdeveloped students opportunities to grow, learn, and have a better chance at overall success by facilitating inspirational learning experiences beyond the classroom. The Board Chair will support and sustain the work of NERDS, and provide governance leadership and strategic fundraising support. That enables ongoing mission delivery and clarity on where we have been to ensure we are going in the right direction. Position: Chair Responsible to: Board of Directors (Membership) Preamble: As a partner to the chief executive officer (CEO) and other board members, theBoard Chair will provide leadership to NERDS Nonprofit as it transitions from a newly formed 501(c)(3) organization into a sustainable national entity. The Board Chair will support and sustain the work of NERDS, and provide governance leadership and strategic fundraising support. Duties Specific to the Board ChairmanThis is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about the success of NERDS’s beneficiaries and who has a track record of board leadership. The selected Board Chair will have achieved leadership stature in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. His/her accomplishments will allow him/her to attract other well-qualified, high-performing board members.Leadership, governance, and oversight Being a trusted advisor to the CEO as s/he develops and implements NERDS’s strategic plan Developing and managing relationships and communicating with: funders, partners, and other stakeholders As a board member, approving NERDS’s annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all, legal and fiduciary responsibilities Reviewing outcomes and metrics created by NERDS for evaluating its impact, and regularly measuring its performance and effectiveness using those metrics Coordinating an annual performance evaluation of the CEO Assisting the CEO and Nominating Committee in recruiting board members Periodically consulting with board members on their roles and helping them assess their performance Planning, presiding over, and facilitating board and committee meetings; partnering with the CEO to ensure that board resolutions are carried out Acting as an ambassador for the organization Ensuring NERDS’s commitment to a diverse board and staff that reflects the communities NERDS serves Fundraising In collaboration with the CEO, generating substantial annual revenue and fostering NERDS’s overall financial health Personally treating NERDS as a top philanthropic priority reflected in an annual financial gift Ensuring that 100 percent of NERDS’s board members make an annual contribution that is commensurate with their capacity Identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major individual donors, corporate, and/or foundation gifts Makes sure members are notified of Annual General Meetings. In the absence of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, chairs Board meetings until the election of an alternate Chairperson.Time Commitment: 8-10 hours per month for 2 years. Evaluation: Self and by the Board annually.Evaluation: Self and by the Board annually. |
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| Desired skills *required | Management, Strategy Consulting, Board* |
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| Commitment | 7+ hours/month |
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| Donation | We strive for 100% board giving, but have no strict guidelines around financial contributions. |
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| Requirements | Attend all board and committee meetings (remote attendance is acceptable). Be informed about the organization’s mission, services, policies, and programs. Review agenda and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings. Serve on committees or task forces and offer to take on special assignments. Make a personal financial contribution to the organization. Inform others about the organization. Advocate for the organization. Suggest possible nominees to the board who can make significant contributions to the work of the board and the organization. Keep up-to-date on developments in the organization’s field. Follow conflict-of-interest and confidentiality policies. Refrain from making special requests of the staff. Assist the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization’s financial statements. |
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| On-boarding | Meet with the Executive Director, shadow a meeting, meet committee chair. We are currently working to develop New Board Member On-boarding Handbook |
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| Our mission | NERDS strives to provide an affordable, hands-on, interactive learning environment for students of all ages, focusing on students in the Greater Cincinnati area. |
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| Causes | Arts & Culture, Children, Education, Poverty |
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