Board of Directors Job Description

The privilege of serving on the Vision Forward Association Board of Directors implies certain obligations, both individual and collective. The actions of the Board are guided always by our Mission:  Empower, Educate and Enhance the lives of individuals impacted by vision loss through all of life’s transitions.

Through our mission, we seek to achieve our Vision: All individuals with vision loss have reached their full potential to lead active, independent lives.

Position

The Board will support the work of Vision Forward Association and provide mission-based leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are led by Vision Forward Associations Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Board-CEO relationship is a partnership, and the appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected.

Board performance expectations include the following:

Primary Responsibilities

  1. Be present at regular meetings of the Board.
    • Attend meetings that are approximately 1.5 hours in duration at least six times per year. Be accessible for personal contact in between Board meetings. Board Members will serve a three-year term and will be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term.
  2. Actively participate in board committee(s).
    • Provide leadership to board committees. Each Board Member is expected to serve as an active, ongoing member of at least one committee. This may require a number of meetings per year, plus for individual committee tasks. Current committees include Executive, Finance, Governance, and Philanthropy and Sustainability.
  3. Commit time to developing financial resources for the organization.
    • Participate in organizational fundraising activities. This includes making a financial gift and supporting the organization’s other fund development activities.
    • Take ownership and participate in our agency events, i.e., Dining in the Dark.
    • It is expected that all board members will make an annual contribution that is commensurate with their capacity so that Vision Forward can credibly solicit contributions from foundations, organizations and individuals.
  4. Participate in Board decision making.
    • Prepare in advance for decision-making and policy formation at Board meetings; take responsibility for self-education on major issues before the board. Responsibly review and act upon committee and staff recommendations brought to the board for action.
      • Approve and monitor the corporate finances of the agency. Create a financial climate for fulfilling the agency purpose.
      • See that sufficient funds are available for the agency to meet its objectives.
      • Authorize and approve the annual audit.
      • Responsible for expenditures dealing with the facilities and its improvements.
      • Select and evaluate the CEO.
      •  Approves policies that govern the administration of personnel.
      • Participate in recruitment, selection and development of Board Members in conjunction with the Governance Committee.
  5. Participate in Board education, development and strategic planning.
    • Participate in the annual board development and planning retreat held each year.
  6. Serve as a resource to the Board and CEO.
    • Utilize personal and professional skills, relationships and knowledge for the advancement of the organization.

Qualifications

This is an opportunity for an individual who is passionate about Vision Forward’s mission and who has a track record of leadership. Selected Board Members will have achieved leadership stature in business, community, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. Their accomplishments will allow them to attract other well-qualified, high-performing Board Members.

Candidates will have the following qualifications:

Interested in learning more about how you can become a Vision Forward Board Member? Contact Jacci Borchardt, CEO, 414-615-0121 or jborchardt@vision-forward.org.