Mutual Expectations
Conservation Dogs Collective (CDCI) believes that a successful win-win relationship with volunteers—including board members—requires both parties to be clear on expectations and the benefits of working together, and exhibit excellent communication skills.
CDCI commits to the following:
- Having clearly defined roles and responsibilities for board, committees, and staff members.
- Providing materials in advance of meetings where decisions or deliberations will occur.
- Producing timely and accurate financial reporting.
- Developing and utilizing committees to assure efficient use of board and staff time.
CDCI also has expectations of board members to leverage everyone's skills and superpowers. This allows our team to work effectively and efficiently to advance CDCI’s mission.
Preparation and Knowledge
- Support the mission of Conservation Dogs Collective.
- Learn about CDCI’s s purpose, history, and needs.
- Keep current on relevant external trends.
- Actively identify and develop opportunities to promote and strengthen Finder-Keeper teams, positive reinforcement animal training, animal welfare, and conservation efforts.
- Keep current on the roles and responsibilities of board involvement, including understanding the differences between board responsibilities and staff responsibilities within CDCI.
- Be willing to ask for help and help others.
Commitments
- Make an annual financial contribution of personal significance to CDCI.
- Commit to a one, two, or three-year term on the BOD
- Each year, identify 15 prospects with $5,000 or greater annual capacity, 30 viable prospects who could commit to a monthly recurring gift of $2 or more, and one viable organization with whom CDCI can explore partnership opportunities for scent or program work
- Attendance:
- Attend all board meetings (generally 10 per year)
- Attend all appropriate committee meetings.
- If a board member misses more than two (2) board meetings annually (Jan 1 - Dec 31), they are ineligible for board term renewal.
- Complete assignments and come prepared to meetings.
- Serve as an ambassador of CDCI to promote the organization to your professional network, identify and recruit supporters, and expand connections to funders, professionals, and scientists. Always remember that as a member of the BOD, you are representing the organization.
- Participate in board and organizational fundraising activities.
Participation
- Support the Executive Director and other CDCI staff by being a strategic-thinking partner and exhibit timely follow-through on commitments and communication.
- Be an ambassador for the organization, including representing CDCI at public and private events, as appropriate.
- Chair or co-chair at least one committee and maintain active participation in board and committee meetings.
- Participate in the governance of CDCI by:
- Helping to set strategic direction by assisting in the development and review of strategic plans and monitoring the success of those plans.
- Overseeing organizational finances through review and approval of the annual budget and annual audit.
- Participating in the development, review, and approval of policy and major decisions.
- Providing fiduciary responsibility through review of quarterly financial reports, annual reports, and ongoing evaluation of investments.
- Hiring, managing, and terminating the Executive Director.
- Recruiting, selecting, and approving candidates for the Board of Directors and Officers for presentation to the board.