Individual Trustee Expectations and Responsibilities
The Allegheny County Bar Foundation's success depends on the personal commitment and active involvement in governance and fundraising of our Trustees, who embrace the privilege to serve and the responsibility to lead, and who bring personal and professional resources and ability to support the ACBF’s mission. Trustees are expected to be advocates on our behalf, ambassadors of our mission, and integral players in our leadership development and fundraising activities. These expectations are clearly articulated during the recruitment process.
General Expectations/Meetings & Committees
- Attend regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings unless unable to do so because of unavoidable conflicts.
- Serve actively on one or more of the ACBF committees and ad hoc committees as requested by the ACBF President.
- Attend meetings prepared, having reviewed the latest financial statements, and read the provided meeting materials, developed pertinent questions and ready to provide meaningful considerations regarding agenda items.
- Enthusiastically contribute personal skills, knowledge, and experience to ACBF Board's efforts and activities.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and strategic planning for the administration, marketing, and public relations activities of the Foundation.
- Identify strong candidates for the Board who will effectively represent the ideals and purpose of the ACBF.
- Support the ACBF staff in furthering the goals of the Foundation.
- Support, participate, and encourage participation in providing pro bono services to help those in need.
- Serve as an ambassador in the legal community and beyond for the ACBF's mission and help the staff to (a) promote the ACBF and its initiatives, and (b) improve access to justice for people in need and make the legal system more fair and efficient for everyone.
Conflicts & Policies
- Serve the ACBF as a whole rather than for any special interest group or personal benefit.
- Adhere to the ACBF's Conflict of Interest Policy, completing the disclosure statement annually.
Fiduciary Responsibility
- Maintain oversight of the ACBF's finances by reading and understanding the ACBF's financial statements and reviewing its annual audit report and Form 990 nonprofit tax return.
- Evaluate financial policies, approve the annual budget, and review finances to ensure the ACBF has the necessary resources to carry out its mission.
- Uphold general oversight and fiduciary duties regarding the ACBF operations, including but not limited to:
- Legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements
- Stewardship of resources and financial reporting
- Bylaws and policies for governance
Fundraising & Development
- Help to promote contributions to the ACBF from colleagues, law firms, corporations, and the general public and assist with fundraising initiatives when requested by the leadership of the ACBF.
- Make a personal monetary contribution annually to the ACBF to the best of your ability.
- Become a Fellow or a Young Lawyer Fellow of the ACBF.
- Make a meaningful contribution to the ACBF's yearly fundraising goals by participating in one or more of the following:
- Solicits new Fellows for the Fellows Program
- Obtain Sponsorships
- Golf Tournament (range from $500-$10,000)
- Bocce
- Other Events/Fall Foundation Reception or Dinner/VIP Events
- Obtain/Donate Silent Auction Items (value)
- Individual Donations:
- Annual Campaign
- Bequests
- Become Sustaining or Patron Fellow
- Pro Bono Donation
- Other Program
- Help obtain Named Funds (threshold to establish a fund is $50,000)
- Help obtain new, and retain Leadership Circle Firms
- Help to solicit and obtain Endowment Gifts
- Law firm donations
- Planned Gifts
As an aspirational goal, helping to raise $50,000 annually through these initiatives and others will sustain and enhance the Foundation's mission.
- Attend and participate actively in ACBF fundraising events, programs, and activities (e.g., purchasing event tickets and contributing financially to special campaigns) and promote attendance through your workplace and/or personal network.
- Encourage your colleagues and others to support the ACBF either individually or through corporate giving.