Joining Tubman's Board of Directors
Serving on Tubman's Board of Directors is an opportunity to support our mission of safety, hope, and healing. Board members make a difference with Tubman through their personal expertise, lived experiences, and connections to the issues on which Tubman serves, including domestic violence, sexual assault, exploitation and trafficking, homelessness, and more.
We are currently seeking a diverse pool of board candidates with varied experiences and expertise. In particular, we encourage applicants who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; people who identify as LGBTQ+; and people who have life experiences that give them insight into the issues of the people we serve. We also seek people with expertise in strategic finance, fundraising, and strategic human resources with an emphasis in people and culture.
About Tubman's Board
Our ideal board size is 20-25 members. Each member is elected to a three-year term and can serve up to three terms.
Tubman’s Board year begins in March with our Annual Meeting and election of board members and officers. Meetings are generally 4:30 – 6:30 PM on the second Tuesday of select months (March, May, September, November, February) and are held at either our Minneapolis or Maplewood sites. Most meetings will include a hybrid option for members who cannot attend in person. In addition, some years we also have a board retreat to foster Board cohesion and address pressing issues at a deeper level.
The election cycle typically begins in the fall (September) when the Nominating and Governance Committee meets to determine the number of open board positions and needed areas of expertise. The Nominating and Governance Committee solicits and reviews candidate applications as the year progresses. It meets with interested candidates, explains the requirements for the position, gives candidates a chance to answer questions, and then determines which candidates to present to the full Board for a vote at the annual meeting in March.
Each board member is expected to participate in one committee, task force, or special project. More information is available below about committee opportunities, and the schedule of meetings, as well as a more in-depth description of the board purpose and responsibilities.
Time Commitment
The time commitment varies each month and depends on your committee involvement. We anticipate an average of 5+ hours a month, with more in some months and fewer in others.
Summary of Responsibilities
The Board, as a whole and through its committees, is responsible for several functions for the organization. They include: resource development; strategic planning and policy making; stewardship advocacy; hiring, overseeing, and supporting the CEO; and evaluating the Board.
Major responsibilities of board members include:
- Establish the mission, vision, goals, and policies of the organization and ensure that the organization is acting consistently with them
- Ensure that the organization has sufficient resources to achieve its goals
- Ensure that the organization is meeting stakeholder needs
- Ensure that the organization and the Board have sufficient leadership.
Fully engaged and participating Board members should:
- Act as an ambassador for the agency and its mission within your personal and professional network.
- Serve on at least one committee, task force, or special project.
- Show up to 75% of board & committee meetings (combined).
- Make a personal gift to the annual campaign that is meaningful to you.
- Support Tubman’s Starlight Soiree, and other fundraising campaigns, through attendance, volunteerism, donations and/or financial contribution.
Learn more about committees, the annual schedule, and the purpose and responsibilities at the links below:
