Kern Dance Alliance seeks self-motivated, charismatic, passionate, and bold community leaders to serve on the distinguished Board of Directors.
The KDA Board of Directors is an all-volunteer Board, committing 2-10 hours a month on mission-based work. KDA Board Members are valued members of our organization.
Kern Dance Alliance
Member of the Board of Directors
Mission
Kern Dance Alliance is a non-profit dance advocacy organization supporting and promoting dance + the arts in Kern County, California.
For more information, please visit www.kerndance.org
Kern Dance Alliance Board Member Handbook
Please review the KDA Board Member Handbook for detailed information on Board roles, terms, and conditions. KDA BOARD MEMBER HANDBOOK CLICK HERE
Position
The Board will support the work of KDA and provide mission-based leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are led by KDA’s President, the Board-President relationship is a partnership, and the appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected. Specific Board Member responsibilities include:
Leadership, governance, and oversight
- Serving as a trusted advisor to the President as s/he develops and implements KDA’s strategic plan
- Reviewing outcomes and metrics created by KDA for evaluating its impact, and regularly measuring its performance and effectiveness using those metrics; reviewing agenda and supporting materials prior to Board and committee meetings
- Approving KDA’s annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all, legal and fiduciary responsibilities
- Assisting the President and Board Chair in identifying and recruiting other Board Members
- Partnering with the President and other Board Members to ensure that Board resolutions are carried out
- Serving on committees or task forces and taking on special assignments
- Acting as an ambassador for the organization
- Ensuring KDA’s commitment to a diverse Board and staff that reflects the communities KDA serves
- Volunteering time to execute KDA programs
Fundraising
KDA Board Members will consider KDA a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority. So that KDA can credibly solicit contributions from foundations, organizations, and individuals, KDA expects to have 100% of Board Members make an annual contribution that is commensurate with their capacity. KDA works within the "Give vs. Get" model, where Board Members are expected to "give" or "get" a specific contribution.
Board terms/participations
KDA’s Board Members will serve a two-year term to be eligible for re-appointment for additional terms. Board meetings will be held monthly and committee meetings will be held in coordination with full Board meetings. The KDA Board is expected to volunteer their time for programs and events, committing 2-10 hours a month on mission-based work.
Qualifications
This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about KDA’s mission and who has a track record of Board leadership. Selected Board Members will have achieved leadership stature in business, government, philanthropy, or the non-profit sector. His/her accomplishments will allow him/her to attract other well-qualified, high-performing Board Members.
Ideal candidates will have the following characteristics:
- Extensive professional experience with significant executive leadership accomplishments in business, government, philanthropy, or the non-profit sector
- A commitment to and understanding of KDA’s beneficiaries, preferably based on experience
- Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals
- Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of KDA’s beneficiaries
- Service on KDA’s Board of Directors is without remuneration, except for administrative support, travel, and accommodation costs in relation to Board Members’ duties.
Individual Board Member responsibilities:
Attend all Board and committee meetings and functions, such as special events and programs.
- Be a current KDA Member
- Be informed about the organization's mission, services, policies, and programs
- Review agenda and supporting materials prior to Board and committee meetings
- Serve on committees or task forces and offer to take on special assignments
- Make a personal financial contribution to the organization
- Inform others about the organization
- Suggest possible nominees to the Board who can make significant contributions to the work of the Board and the organization
- Keep up-to-date on developments in the organization's field
- Follow conflict-of-interest and confidentiality policies
- Refrain from making special requests of the staff
- Assist the Board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization's annual financial statements
Personal characteristics to consider:
- Ability to listen, analyze, think clearly and creatively, work well with people individually and in a group.
- Passion for dance and the arts in Kern County
- Willing to prepare for and attend Board and committee meetings, ask questions, take responsibility and follow through on a given assignment, contribute personal and financial resources in a generous way according to circumstances, open doors in the community, evaluate oneself
- Develop certain skills if you do not already possess them, such as to cultivate and solicit funds, cultivate and recruit Board members and other volunteers, read and understand financial statements, learn more about the substantive program area of the organization
- Possess honesty, sensitivity to and tolerance of differing views, a friendly, responsive, and patient approach, community-building skills, personal integrity, a developed sense of values, concern for your non-profit's development, a sense of humor
KDA thanks you for applying!
All applicants will be notified the week after the application deadline closes.