Service and Responsibility

Board members of InnVision have certain duties and responsibilities that are integral to the stewardship and governance of the organization. Board members are expected to participate as follows:

ATTENDANCE:
Members are expected to attend the scheduled board, committee meetings, and annual planning retreat on a regular basis.

COMMITTEE OBLIGATIONS:
Serve on at least one committee. Consideration will be given for the members’ preference.

PERSONAL GIVING:
Make a minimum gift of at least $250.00 during the fiscal year.

FUND RAISING:
Assist in raising at least $1,000.00 during your first year of service.
Participate actively in fund raising activities as the need arises. The fund raising committee and InnVision staff will provide research and support in these endeavors.
Attend and sell blocks of tickets to InnVision events.
Assist in identifying, recommending, and recruiting potential donors by making personal contact.

TRAINING:
Complete the board orientation program.
Attend all other training offered by the Board of Directors.

LONG RANGE PLANNING:
Participate in the development of, and approve overall agency goals and objectives. Formulate and help implement long-range plans for agency development.

GOVERNANCE:
Monitor the agency’s financial, legal, administrative and program statuses to assure that obligations, goals and objectives are met.
Review and approve the annual budget.
Oversee the evaluation of the Executive Director’s performance.
Review and approve agency personnel policies and compensation packages including salary ranges and benefit levels.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The above requirements are basic guides to Board of Directors membership. Any of these requirements may be waived if the Chair of the Board chooses, in consideration of special qualities or qualifications that an individual may bring to the Board.

NOTES:
Attention given to Board duties is an invaluable contribution to InnVision. Board members are not expected to volunteer in any other capacity for the agency. If you choose to serve as a volunteer at InnVision program sites, remember that you serve in that role as an individual, not as a representative of the Board. Any authority construed from your Board status does not carry over to individual volunteer activities.

For more information about InnVision's Board of Directors, please email [email protected], or call (408) 292-4286.

JOINING THE BOARD

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR...

We take special pride in our board because it is such a blend of talents and backgrounds. Each board member brings her/his own unique perspective to the group, while all have the common desire to support the mission of InnVision in the fullest way possible.

A review of current board representation shows that we are in special need of board members who can offer the following:

ETHNIC REPRESENTATION:
Ethnic diversity on the board is vital. InnVision programs serve a broad spectrum of the community so our board must better reflect the community it serves.

FUNDRAISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS:
The services InnVision provides are important, and we need members who have fundraising experience and can provide entrees to potential donors.

REAL ESTATE / DEVELOPMENT:
We have built or renovated several large facilities. We now operate 11 sites.

CPA’s:
Our present annual budget is 6million, made up of government grants; foundation grants; United Way funding; corporation grants and contributions; and, private, individual contributions. We also have a significant real estate portfolio. Fiscal responsibility is an absolute necessity.

CONTRACT ATTORNEYS:
InnVision is indebted to the attorneys who have served on the board, and recognizes the valuable expertise they provide. Access to legal expertise is an on-going need for any agency.

PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT:
InnVision has grown from one program and two employees to eight programs and over eighty employees. More employees (and more volunteers) mean more personnel issues.

ORGANIZATION ASSESSMENT & MANAGEMENT:
A major concern is enhancing the quality of service in the present programs while remaining open to the possibility for new ventures.

GOVERNMENT/COMMUNITY CONTACTS:
The InnVision budget is a blend of government and community funding. It is helpful to have influence with those resources.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS TO CONSIDER:

Ability to: Listen, analyze, think clearly and creatively, work well with people individually and in a group.

Willingness to: Prepare for and attend board and committee meetings, ask questions, take responsibility and follow through on a given assignment, contribute personal and financial resources in a generous way according to circumstances, open doors in the community, evaluate oneself.

Develop certain skills if they do not already possess them, such as to: Cultivate and solicit funds, cultivate and recruit board members and other volunteers, read and understand financial statements, learn more about the substantive program area of your nonprofit.

To possess: Honesty, sensitivity to and tolerance of differing views, a friendly, responsible, and patient approach, community-building skills, personal integrity, a developed sense of values, concern for your nonprofit’s development, a sense of humor.

Other characteristics that may be important to our board: People who will work; well-known people who may lend their names; people who are "on the way up" in our community, but not already over-committed; well-positioned community leaders who will contribute "time, talent, and treasure," or, to put it another way, "work, wealth, and wisdom;" leaders who can and will "give and get."

In general, we seek individuals who will give high priority to InnVision. The mission is too important to allow the luxury of board members who may be heavily obligated to a number of other causes. The board is a working board, requiring time and commitment from each member. It is estimated that each board member shares around four to six hours of valuable time each month.

For more information about joining InnVision's Board of Directors, please contact Chief Executive Officer Christine Burroughs ([email protected]), (408) 292-4286.