Join Our Board of Directors

Wings for Widows is seeking motivated individuals to join our Board of Directors.  Candidates must have a heart for our mission and a passion to serve the overlooked and underserved widow community.  Candidates must be ready to take on leadership roles and help direct an entrepreneurial and rapidly growing organization.  We are seeking team members who will actively guide and engage in efforts to shape and strengthen our unique programmatic direction and strategic vision.

The Board of Directors is a governance board, not an operational one, which means that Board members aren’t expected to carry out the day-to-day operations.  We have an excellent staff who implements our strategic and operational plans and works hard to make our vision a reality.  The Board works closely with the Executive Director to ensure that we do our best work possible in pursuit of our mission.  Board members are key advocates, thought leaders, and ambassadors, and act responsibility as the organization’s steward.

Commitment

• Commitment to the mission:  Have a heart for our mission and works in good faith with staff and other board members as partners toward achievement of our shared goals.  Believes in the Wings for Widows mission, vision, and values, and considers them as a framework for all decisions.
• Attendance:  Attend at least 75 percent of board meetings, committee meetings, annual retreat and special events. The Board conducts hybrid meetings every other month at a location TBA.
• Build and sustain a competent board:  Recruit candidates, help orient new members, and regularly evaluate board performance and areas of needed improvement.

Oversight

• Fiduciary and fiscal responsibility:  Participate in approving all policies that guide the organization, its governance and its work.  Adhere to legal standards and ethical norms.  Members oversee the financial health and well-being of Wings for Widows through approving a financial budget linked to the strategic plan, assessing and approving the organization’s annual budget, regularly reviewing financial performance against the budget, and holding the Chief Executive Officer accountable to achieve financial goals and objectives.
• Preparation for meetings:  Stay informed about the organization’s priorities and initiatives.  Ask questions and request information to understand the issues at hand.
• Involvement at meetings:  Participate in and take responsibility for making decisions on issues, policies, and other matters.  Board members do not stay silent if they have questions or concerns.  Board members are required to excuse themselves from discussions and votes where they have a conflict of interest.
• Planning:  Help establish short- and long-term goals.  Assist with the development and evaluation of a strategic plan and in implementing and monitoring the plan’s goals.
• Select, support and evaluate the CEO:  The Chief Executive Officer is hired by and directly accountable to the Board of Directors through its elected board chair.  The Board is responsible for defining the CEO’s responsibilities and, when a vacancy arises, undertake a careful search to find the most qualified individual for the position.  The Board should ensure that the CEO has the moral and professional support he or she needs to further the goals of the organization.

Support

• Personal gift:  Make a personal financial contribution at a level that is meaningful to you, consistent with your personal budget and capacity.  As a leader of the organization, we are grateful to Board members for making Wings for Widows a “top three” philanthropic priority.
• Fundraising:  Share the names of prospective donors, assist in cultivation activities, and make solicitation visits and stewardship calls.  Participate in the planning and marketing of special events.  Carry out other resource development activities consistent with their own skills and contacts and the needs of the organization.
• Advocacy:  Help interpret the organization’s work and values to the community and act as an ambassador.  In turn, Board members also help interpret our constituencies’ needs and values to the organization, speak out for their interests, and hold the organization accountable.  Board members may be asked to represent Wings for Widows at meetings or events.
• Involvement on committees:  Serve on at least one standing or project-based committee.  Be open to leading such committees as required.

Required Attributes

• Integrity:  Tells the truth and is described by others as honest; consistently takes responsibility for own actions.  Does not deflect accountability for governance concerns or problems onto others but rather seeks to find collaborative solutions.
• Credibility:  Acts in accordance with stated values, has credibility and is trustworthy in the eyes of colleagues, donors and volunteers.  Walks the talk.
• Compassion:  Shows genuine concern for others.  Develops relationships with fellow board members, staff, community organizations and stakeholders.  Serves as an ambassador to engage and inspire people within and outside Wings for Widows.
• Courage:  Acts decisively to tackle difficult problems; perseveres in the face of adversity; takes the lead on unpopular though necessary actions.

Selection Process

1. Board member selection is a multi-stage process, taking less than 30 days.
2. To be considered for Board membership, the first step is to complete the interest form below and attach a current resume (optional).
3. Once your interest form is submitted, you will be invited to schedule a virtual meeting with our Board Chair or Vice Chair.
4. During your meeting you will learn more about Wings for Widows and the role Board members play in support of our mission.
5. Candidates may then be invited to meet with additional Board members.  This is optional, but a great opportunity to ask questions.
6. Finalists will be invited to attend a regularly-scheduled Board meeting.  They will have an opportunity to introduce themselves and then observe most of the meeting.  All Boards operate differently so this is a great opportunity to see how our Board operates.  At the least, you can observe a recording of a board meeting.
7. A Board vote will follow and notification of results provided.
8. New Board members will then complete orientation and Docusign two Board member forms.
9. Board members are elected to a two-year term, which may be renewed up to three times for a total of six consecutive years of service. Terms generally run for a full calendar year.
10. Wings for Widows welcomes people from all walks of life to join us in our mission to become the premier provider of financial literacy for the newly-widowed.

 

Open Positions

• Directors

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Board of Directors Interest Form