Join the Board of Directors
of Ability Now Bay Area
For more than eighty years Ability Now Bay Area has been facilitating the development and growth of the abilities in those we serve – individuals who want to strengthen and broaden their knowledge and proficiencies while building skills and solutions that diminish the barriers of disability.
Each of our participants has a self-directed plan for their own continuing development and a positive vision for their present and future selves.
If you resonate with the idea of keeping an essential organization thriving for decades to come, consider Board service with Ability Now Bay Area. We are seeking passionate, thoughtful, and experienced business and community leaders who want to make a difference in the lives of those who need us today, tomorrow, and always.
Bruce Morotti
Director
“As a long-serving Board Member, it’s always been a joy to serve a community of vibrant adults with special needs who simply wish to live a fulfilling, enriched and active life.”
Noeta Hester
Board Secretary
“ANBA board is a wonderful training ground for being a board member. I have become confident in my role as Board Secretary being supported and encouraged by a top-notch group of individuals.”
Our Board of Directors also has a plan for the organization’s ongoing development and sustainability, and we seek new Board member recruits to join us in playing an essential role in supporting this acclaimed organization, and in helping make these visions and dreams come to life.
ANBA has a clear vision of the Board’s Roles and Responsibilities and seeks to further strengthen our solid foundation with the addition of members with experience and knowledge of:
- Government regulations, policies, funding, and strategy serving people with developmental disabilities
- Local or State political leadership
- Estate, trust, real estate, and general practice Law
- Facility management
- Marketing and fundraising through digital and social media for individual & planned giving
- Strategic Planning
- Other Board service skills
John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”
… and you would be exactly the type of leader we are looking for.
If you are inspired by the work we do and motivated to apply for Board service, read more about our roles and responsibilities below.
Applying to the Board of Directors:
The following tabs include materials that will assist you in preparing to serve on the Board of Directors of Ability Now Bay Area (ANBA). Please find these items:
- Statement of Board Roles and Responsibilities
- Roles and Responsibilities of Officers and Committees
- Application for Service on the Board of Directors
- Nominating Committee Reference Interview Form
ANBA’s volunteer Board of Directors is known for its leadership, diversity of membership, and professionalism. Its members are individuals who are leaders in their field and share these attributes:
- Deeply committed to advancing the right of all persons with a disability to dignity, respect, and self-determination;
- Actively involved in a broad array of issues, programs and policies;
- Broadly representative of our community and professionals dedicated to working with individuals with disabilities;
- Providing leadership at state and local levels;
- Knowledgeable of professional, societal and political issues affecting the mission, purpose and activities of ANBA; and passionate about contributing to the field.
Thank you for your interest in serving on the Board of Directors of the ANBA Bay Area!
The Board of Directors of ANBA is charged with providing effective governance to the organization. As volunteer directors of a nonprofit organization, Board members comprise the highest governing body legally responsible for carrying out ANBA’s mission, safeguarding the organization’s assets, and ensuring the future of the organization. The Board is responsible for providing clarity of mission and strategic direction for ANBA, as well as giving guidance, assistance, and oversight to the Executive Director.
The Board, as individuals committed to ANBA’s mission, also may provide a wide range of support to the organization at the direction and discretion of the Executive Director. Individual Board members may provide support in areas such as resource development and fundraising, program development and implementation, and public relations and advocacy.
As volunteers, members of the Board of Directors of the ANBA are expected to commit their best efforts to serve the organization. Responsibilities, functions and duties of the Board are divided among four major roles: governance oversight, policymaking, leadership and fiscal oversight.
Board Roles and Responsibilities include:
As overseers, the Board
- provides advice and counsel to the Board President and Executive Director;
- determines qualifications for, selects, employs, evaluates and dismisses (if necessary) the Executive Director;
- provides orientation for newly elected Board members and ongoing development for all members of the Board;
- provides for the replacement of Board members unable to serve; and
- recommends prospective leaders to the nominating committee.
As policy-makers, the Board
- formulates, reviews and revises governance policies that guide ANBA activities; and
- delegates responsibility for the execution and administration of related procedures and practices to the Executive Director.
As a collective group of leaders, the Board
- approves objectives, policies, strategies and plans that relate to strategic planning and long‑range goals;
- creates standing and ad hoc committees and defines their responsibilities;
- establishes goals and program priorities;
- approves Bylaws amendments before official ballot approval by voting members;
- responds to professional, societal, political and ethical issues that affect the mission, vision, purpose and activities of ANBA;
- assesses programs and direction in relationship to the needs of the individuals served by ANBA;
- balances the diverse interests of the membership and public while ensuring the continued functioning of ANBA;
- helps advance strategic alliances, collaborations, and other affiliations;
- serves, upon request, as a representative of ANBA (for example, to offer a public address or to speak) when requested in support of ANBA’s goals and purposes; and
- forecasts changes in society, and the specialties that have an impact on ANBA’s mission, purposes and activities.
As individual leaders, Board members
- attend and participate in all Board and committee meetings;
- serve as mentors to new Board members and committee chairs;
- accept assignments to at least one committee, work with the committee’s chair to maximize its effectiveness, and to serve as an advocate of the committee to the Board;
- promote ANBA in your community of residence and at one’s employer;
- advise the staff and Board about issues that merit ANBA’s attention;
- review, evaluate and respond as necessary to minutes, action items and other materials;
- complete reports on assignments associated with the role or as delegated by the Board;
- make informed decisions representing the best interests of ANBA, staff and participants;
- be knowledgeable about content associated with ANBA’s work;
- serve as role models in making a personal financial gift to ANBA’s annual fundraising campaign and fundraising activities;
- make a meaningful contribution to the annual fundraising campaign in an amount(s) in accordance to one’s capacity to give;
- participate actively in ANBA’s fund development activities, including helping ANBA staff and key committee leaders plan and orchestrate fundraising events, solicit corporate sponsors and gifts, meet with potential funders and sponsors about funding opportunities that support ANBA’s work.
As financial stewards of ANBA, the Board
- assumes fiduciary responsibility for ANBA’s fiscal well-being and its proper financial administration;
- reviews and authorizes ANBA’s annual budget;
- examines the financial audit of accounts at the close of the fiscal year;
- authorizes reimbursement for ANBA’s major expenditures through resolutions;
- approves funding for special programs created for ANBA’s maintenance and growth;
- advises and /or secures professional advice on matters relating to funding and investments.
Expenses Board members can be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, excluding travel to Board meetings.
Board Orientation and Business Meetings
Elected Board members begin their orientation with an assigned Board mentor at the first meeting following their official election to the Board. Each new member also schedules an orientation to ANBA with the Executive Director.
Composition
The Board of Directors is made up of 15 to 25 voting members. ANBA’s Executive Director is an ex-officio, non-voting member. Members are elected to the Board by a majority vote of the entire Board. Eligibility criteria, specific functions and terms of office can be found in the ANBA Bylaws. All elected and appointed officers are required to sign Conflict of Interest and Ethics forms.
Board President
The Board President serves as chief elected officer of ANBA; represents ANBA and its interests; exercises personal leadership in motivating officers, staff, and committees; provides leadership in the establishment of goals for ANBA; and works in partnership with the Executive Director.
Vice-President
The Vice-President assists the President in carrying out the functions of the President’s office.
Secretary
The secretary ensures that records are maintained of all ANBA Board meetings.
Treasurer
The treasurer is responsible for and ensures the maintenance of appropriate records of all funds and securities of ANBA; and serves as Chair of the Budget and Finance committee.