Join the Board of Directors
of Ability Now Bay Area
Working with and learning from each other, Ability Now Bay Area’s board brings a wealth of experience, perspectives, and leadership to mission advancement for our organization. Amplifying the well-being and empowerment of the people with disabilities we serve is deeply satisfying and nourishes us professionally and personally.
Each of our participants has a self-directed plan for their own continuing development and a positive vision for their present and future selves.
In order to ensure ANBA’s exceptional programs are accessible to all participants regardless of adaptive and medical support needs, Ability Now Bay Area offers full Medical Day Program services, with a licensed vocational nurse always on site, and a consulting registered nurse providing additional care, working alongside experienced professional wellness practitioners and highly-trained DSPs.
Noeta Hester
Board Secretary
“There is no greater feeling than knowing an environment nurtured and respected my son’s individualism; he truly claimed Ability Now Bay Area as his own. Because this was his ‘happy place,’ I can think of no better way to give back than by serving on the Board of Directors. It is a profound privilege to support the mission that meant so much to him.”
Ability Now Bay Area has a successful, storied history owing much to the many board members and volunteers who have contributed over the years.
It’s rewarding work. ANBA’s board welcomes individuals who want to pay it forward and give something back, broadening networks, deepening experience and skills, and developing solutions to enrich the lives of people with disabilities. We invite new ideas to reduce the barriers facing those we serve and strengthen their opportunities and independence.
Our Board has a strategic plan for ANBA’s ongoing development and sustainability. We want to hear from individuals with experience in these areas:
- Medical and Health Care with a focus on disability and aging
- Finance and Accounting
- Non-profit Legal
- Legislation, Government, Policy, and Advocacy
- Marketing and Communications with a focus on Social Media expertise
- Fund Development
- Data Analytics and IT/AI Strategy
“Advocacy is not just a task for charismatic individuals or high-profile community organizers. Advocacy is for all of us; advocacy is a way of life. It a natural response to the injustices and inequality in the world.”
Alice Wong, Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century
If you are inspired by the idea of helping a successful organization thrive for decades to come, consider Board service with Ability Now Bay Area. We seek passionate, thoughtful and experienced business and community leaders who are ready to make a difference with those who need us today, tomorrow and always.
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!
Our Board is the governance and policy-making structure of Ability Now Bay Area, a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. Board Members are trustees, responsible for executing our mission, safeguarding our assets, and ensuring ANBA’s future. Members provide clarity and strategic direction and support the management team with guidance, assistance, and oversight. ANBA’s Executive Director calls upon Board members for support in resource development, fundraising, advocacy, public relations, and community outreach.
The ANBA Board has 10 to 25 voting members with the Executive Director serving as an ex-officio, nonvoting member. Members are elected by a majority vote of the entire Board. ANBA Bylaws detail the eligibility criteria, specific functions, and terms of office. All elected and appointed officers are required to sign Consent-to-Serve and Conflict of Interest documents.
Board members provide ANBA their best efforts in four areas: oversight, policymaking, leadership and fiscal oversight.
As overseers, the Board
- Offers advice and counsel to the Executive Director
- Determines the required qualifications of the Executive Director, selects the ED, develops objectives, and evaluates the ED’s performance
- Orients newly elected board members and supports their ongoing development and engagement
- Recommends prospective board members
- Replaces board members unable to continue serving
As policy-makers, the Board
- Develops and revises the governance policies of Ability Now
- The Executive Director is responsible for the ongoing execution and administration of ANBA policies and practices.
Collectively, the Board
- Develops ANBA’s policies, priorities and strategic plan
- Creates standing and ad hoc committees and defines their responsibilities
- Approves Bylaws amendments
- With the Executive Director, anticipates and responds to professional, societal, political and ethical issues that affect ANBA’s mission, programs and well-being
- Assesses programs in relation to the needs of individuals served by Ability Now Bay Area
- Advances strategic alliances, collaborations and other affiliations;
- Represents ANBA publicly as requested in support of ANBA’s mission
As individual leaders, Board members
- Participate in all Board meetings and their committee meeting assignments as well as leadership conferences and other functions as requested
- Serve as mentors to new Board members and committee chairs
- Participate in at least one committee or task force, working to maximize its effectiveness and reporting to the Board
- Support Ability Now Bay Area’s fundraising and information-gathering efforts in your residential community and place of employment
- Advise ANBA staff and Board about issues deserving ANBA’s attention
- Review, evaluate and respond as necessary to minutes, action items and other Board materials
- Familiarize yourself about ANBA’s efforts and activities sufficient to being conversant in public about ANBA
- Fully support Ability Now Bay Area’s fund development activities, including events, corporate and foundation solicitations, planned giving, and other fundraising ideas.
- Make an annual financial gift to Ability Now Bay Area, per one’s capacity to give
As financial stewards of ANBA, the Board
- Ensure the organization’s fiscal well-being and proper financial administration
- Review and approve ANBA’s annual budget
- Ensure an independent financial audit of the organization each fiscal year
- Authorize reimbursement methods for Ability Now’s major expenditures by means of organizational resolutions
- Approve special program funding for ANBA’s maintenance, and advise and/or secure professional advice on matters relating to funding and investments.
Composition
The ANBA Board has 15 to 25 voting members; the Executive Director is an ex-officio, nonvoting member. The Board Committees include the Executive, Fund Development/Recruitment, Finance, Audit and other ad hoc committees the Board President designates. Board members serve two-year terms that can be renewable.
Board President Duties
The Board President is chief elected officer of Ability Now. S/he represents Ability Now and its interests; exercises personal leadership in motivating officers, staff and committees; leads in establishing ANBA goals; and partners with the Executive Director.
The president’s responsibilities are:
- Preside at all Board meetings, conducted in accordance with the Ability Now Bylaws;
- Prepares the agenda with the Executive Director and reviews relevant meeting materials
- Prepares periodic reports to inform the Board and committees on ANBA’s conditions and operations
- Solicits board member input on organizational and professional issues
- Directs the Board in policy-making and program development
- Work with the Executive Director to see that policies and programs are planned and approved by the Board and appropriate committees
- Act as an immediate advisor to and supervisor of the Executive Director
- Conducts the Executive Director’s annual performance review
- Acts as a spokesperson for Ability Now to the public, media, legislative bodies, and related organizations and/or designated other individuals to represent ANBA
- Appoints committees identified during the term of office;
- Serve as an ex officio member of all ANBA committees, except the Nominating Committee.
Vice-President Duties
The Vice President assists the President with the functions of the President’s office. The term of the Vice President is an orientation to assuming a term as President upon election.
The Vice President’s responsibilities are:
- Assume the President’s duties in her or his absence
- Serve on the Executive Committee
- Represent Ability Now as requested by the President and/or Executive Director,
- Oversee the appointment of all Ability Now advisory panels and committees
- Collaborate with the Executive Director and President in decision-making and planning
Secretary Duties
The Secretary ensures the maintenance of all ANBA Board meeting records.
The Secretary’s responsibilities are:
- Record meeting minutes for all Board and Executive Committee sessions
- Submit minutes to the President and Executive Director for review and approval and ensure the minutes’ distribution to all board members before each board meeting
- Ensure meetings are conducted according to Roberts’ Rules of Order or similar guidelines and according to ANBA Bylaws
- Represent Ability Now as the President requests
Treasurer Duties
The Treasurer ensures the maintenance of appropriate records of all funds and securities of Ability Now.
The Treasurer’s responsibilities are:
- Regular review of financial statements and ANBA’s overall fiscal status
- Ensure regular financial reports are presented to the Board and the finance committee
- Serve on the Executive Committee
- Chair the Budget and Finance committee
- Represent Ability Now as the President requests