Trustee Job Description

Job Description
Title: Member, Virginia BPW FoundationSM Board of Trustees
Reports to: Board Chair of the Virginia BPW FoundationSM

Purpose: Serve on the Board as a voting member; develop policies, procedures and guidelines for the operation of the Virginia BPW FoundationSM; monitor finances of the organization, its programs and performance.

Expected meeting attendance:

· Regularly attend meetings as scheduled (minimum three face-to-face per year, one about every four months; conference calls as needed)

· Attend standing committee meetings if a member (may be held via conference calls)

· Participate as an ad hoc committee member if appointed

· Attend Board orientation and other Board development activities (minimum one per year as scheduled by the Chair of the Board)

· Attend and participate in special events as needed.

Obligations of the Board:

·	Transact the business of the Virginia BPW FoundationSM

·	Consider the committee recommendations and make final approval of scholarship, grant and fellowship winners

·	Manage the assets of the Foundation and administer the funds established for specific scholarships, grants, fellowships and other special projects

·	Give financial support to individuals to study business conditions in foreign countries.

·	Promote lectures, seminars and other forms of instruction

·	Consider and approve an annual budget

·	Conduct and/or support surveys and other research projects of importance to business and professional women

·	Sponsor meetings and conferences for those interested in the study of the role of women in business and the professions

·	Solicit and receive gifts from individuals and organizations in order to carry out the purpose of the Foundation

Specific duties:

· Participate in meetings

· Show commitment to Board activities between meetings

· Be well informed on issues and agenda items in advance of meetings

· Contribute skills, knowledge and experience when appropriate

· Listen respectfully to other points of view

· Participate in organizational decision-making

· Assume leadership roles in all Board activities

· Represent the organization to the public and to private industry

· Educate yourself about the needs of the people you serve

Term of Appointment: length varies up to 3 years, limited to two consecutive terms.

Board of Trustee Expectations

General Expectations

· Know the organization’s mission, purpose, goals, policies, programs, services, strengths, and needs.

· Perform duties of board membership responsibly and conform to the level of competence expected from board members.

· Contribute skills, knowledge and experience when appropriate.

· Suggest possible nominees to the board who are clearly women and men of achievement and distinction and who can make significant contributions to the work of the board and the organization’s progress.

· Serve in leadership positions and undertake special assignments willingly and enthusiastically.

· Avoid prejudiced judgments on the basis of limited information.

· Follow trends in the organization’s field of interest.

· Bring good will and a sense of humor to the board’s deliberations.

Meetings

· Prepare for and participate in board and committee meetings, including appropriate organizational activities.

§ Be well informed on issues and agenda items in advance of meetings.

§ Attend regular meetings as scheduled (minimum 3 face-to-face per year; generally February, October and June, conference calls as needed).

§ Attend committee and task force meetings if appointed.

§ Attend and participate in special events as requested.

§ Actively participate in organizational decision-making.

· Suggest agenda items periodically for board and committee meetings to ensure that significant, policy-related matters are addressed.

· Ask timely and substantive questions at board and committee meetings consistent with your conscience and convictions, while supporting the majority decision on issues decided by the board.

· Listen respectfully to other points of view.

· Maintain confidentiality of the board’s deliberations, and speak for the board or organization only when authorized to do so.

· Attend Board orientation and other board development activities (minimum 1 per year). –

· Show commitment to Board activities between meetings.

Avoiding Conflicts

· Serve the organization as a whole rather than any special interest group or constituency. Regardless of whether or not you were invited to fill a vacancy reserved for a certain constituency or organization, your first obligation is to avoid any preconception that you “represent” anything but the organization’s best interests.

· Avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest that might embarrass the board or the organization, and disclose any possible conflicts to the board in a timely fashion.

· Maintain independence and objectivity and do what a sense of fairness, ethics, and personal integrity dictate, even though not necessarily obliged to do so by law, regulations, or custom.

· Never accept (or offer) favors or gifts from (or to) anyone who does business with the organization.

Fiduciary Responsibilities

· Exercise prudence with the board in the control and transfer of funds.

· Faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements and otherwise help the board fulfill its fiduciary responsibility.

Fundraising

· Give an annual gift according to personal means.

· Assist the development committee by implementing fundraising strategies through personal influence with others (corporations, individuals, foundations).