Board members are given the opportunity to bring their specialized skills and strengths to bear on the oversight, funding, and board governance of a program that makes an arts, visual literacy, and skills-based education curriculum accessible to 400+ students a year.

At Youth in Focus we seek to identify and engage board members who can bring new perspectives and life experiences to the team. We prioritize passion for our mission and shared values of creating safe, inclusive spaces and nurturing relationships; providing access and fostering creativity; encouraging curiosity and a growth-mindset; and building a community that welcomes all.

The ideal candidate is passionate about our work of changing the trajectory of young people's lives through photography and equitable access to opportunity. We seek candidates whose lived experience reflects that of the students we serve, including students of color, those facing poverty/housing insecurity, English language learners, and LGBTQ+ youth. While we have made significant changes to the makeup of our staff to reflect our youth better, we now turn that focus to the board. We need board members who have the capacity to volunteer their time and leverage their networks to grow our advocates and supporters.

Based on our strategic priorities for 2023, we are specifically seeking candidates that bring the following skills and experiences:

• Relational – able to draw people into the organization to expand our network of funders, board members, and partners
• Fundraising Strategy Development and Implementation
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice to ensure we are accountable to and appropriately serving our students and the larger community
• Execution of strategic plans to ensure a sustainable future

Time Commitment

When does the Board Meet?

• Board Meetings occur bi-monthly, usually on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:00-8:00 PM (January, May, July, September, November)
• Annual Board Retreat one Saturday in March
• Board Committee meetings set their own meeting times and schedules

How many hours of service per month are expected from a board member?

• 6-10 hours/month
• Attend Board and Committee Meetings
• Review materials and prepare for meetings
• Advocate for Youth in Focus

2023 Board Recruiting Timeline

• Application Deadline: January 15, 2023
• Interest Conversation with Executive Director and Board Member: January 16-27, 2023
• Candidates Invited to Interview with Governance Committee: January 30-February 10, 2023
• Special Meeting of the Board to Approve New Board of Directors, February 21, 2023
• Candidates Notified by February 22, 2023
• New Board Member Orientation: Tuesday, February 28, 2023, from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm
• First Board Meeting: Annual Retreat on Saturday, March 11, 2023