Join the SeaMo Board: Applications Due July 23rd « SeaMo: Connecting the Microfinance Community. SeaMo is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible in full or in part.

Join the SeaMo Board: Applications Due July 23rd

July 6, 2010 No Comments

SeaMo is seeking three individuals to serve on the organizational board of directors. Included below are a general description of the board and its responsibilities, as well as the specific descriptions of the three open board positions. Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to ryan@seattlemicrofinance.org by July 23rd.

SeaMo Board of Directors –

Mission statement

Established in 2007, SeaMo’s mission is to connect the microfinance community through events, online services, and opportunities for collaboration.

Responsibilities of the Board of directors:

The SeaMo Board of Directors is responsible for upholding and executing the mission of the organization. It holds legal and fiduciary responsibility for the organization and oversees its mission, purpose and policies. As the SeaMo Executive Director is currently a part-time position, the SeaMo Board, in cooperation with the Executive Director, collectively acts as the chief executing body for the organization and is responsible for executing SeaMo’s programs and initiatives.

It is a volunteer position and requires a commitment of 10-20 hours/month.

Responsibilities include:

Establish strategic plans, goals and policies consistent with the mission of the organization in partnership with the Executive Director and other staff and committees,
Monitor SeaMo’s financial health: adopt and amend annual budget; review financial statements on a regular basis; ensure resources are managed and invested properly; ensure SeaMo is operating within 501(c)3 guidelines and accepted accounting procedures,
Raise funds for the organization,
Adopt and amend SeaMo’s bylaws and organizational and programmatic policies,
Hire, support, evaluate, supervise and remove the Executive Director if necessary, and
Assess and manage the performance of the board and its committees.

Composition and Terms

The Board is composed of 10 to 15 members. According to the bylaws of SeaMo, Board members are nominated and elected by the Board of Directors. Each member serves a one-year term.

Board Member Service Expectations

All Board members are expected to:

• Actively fundraise for the organization

Activities include but are not limited to:

Annually cultivating (and possibly soliciting) relationships with a portfolio of donors and prospects,
Representing the Board of Directors at other special events whenever possible including donor briefings, house parties and donor stewardship events
Participate in organizational decision making and support the Board’s decisions
Meet all the shared fiduciary responsibilities of the board (e.g. Read and understand financial statements, etc)
Serve as an “ambassador” for SeaMo to the public and reach out to friends/colleagues on behalf of SeaMo
Provide input regarding hiring and supervision of Executive Director; participate in ED annual performance evaluation
Suggest new Board members and participate in vetting and interviewing process as needed
Participate in individual and collective annual Board self evaluation
Sign annual Board member contracts and conflict of interest statements and honor those commitments
Attend at least 75% of program-related activities each year (on average one event per month)
Attend bi-annual board retreats
Prepare for and attend all board meetings, including suggesting agenda items in advance (board meetings are scheduled monthly)
Lead or co-lead one committee that leverages your skills and talents or serves SeaMo’s needs for highly skilled labor

BOARD AGREEMENT

I have read and understood the responsibilities of the board as a whole, the individual board member responsibilities, and the characteristics of SeaMo board members.

I agree to fully participate as a SeaMo board member for the 1-year term, August 31, 2010 to August 31, 2011.

Signature: ____________________________________________

Date: ____________________________________________

OPEN POSITIONS:

Marketing Chair

SeaMo is looking for a scrappy, experienced, and grass-roots marketing manager for a marketing Chairperson position on our board of directors, who will help drive awareness and attendance at our events, and take our mission for poverty alleviation to the next level. You’ll collaborate with our Executive Director, board and lead a marketing committee to develop a marketing strategy and plan to support our evolving mission and target new audiences, improve our online and social media marketing, create relationships with journalists and media outlets, and execute on tactics.

Responsibilities:

Create a strategic marketing plan from scratch
Drive our organizational rebranding, positioning, & messaging framework, as well as the branding, positioning, and messaging framework of a conference
Create an event and conference marketing plan
Work with the online committee to develop an effective, bottom-up social media marketing strategy (Facebook, twitter, etc.)
Develop a PR plan and develop relationships with journalists and media outlets
Identify and experimenting with non-traditional marketing tactics
Roll up your sleeves and relentlessly execute on marketing tactics
Inspire and motivate a team of volunteers, our community, and board to execute on marketing tactics

Skills Required:

5 or more years of marketing experience
Ability to step up in a leadership role as a marketing thought leader and create strategic marketing plans from scratch with very little direction
Willingness to roll up your sleeves and hustle with a strong bias for action to execute on marketing tactics
Proven ability to thrive under ambiguity and with little resources
Strong verbal and written communication skills

Strongly Desired:

MBA
Event marketing experience
3 years of online and social media marketing experience
3 to 5 years of experience in an early-stage company or non-profit in more of grass-roots, guerilla marketing role strongly desired

Events Chair

Seamo is looking for an experienced events planner for the Events Chairperson position on our board of directors, who will schedule and manage the process of holding 8-10 events per year. The events will be a combination of networking events, including at least four Microfinance and Microbrews, and educational events such as lectures and panels and will vary in size and venue.

Responsibilities

Schedule Seamo’s events and manage event calendar
Plan Seamo’s monthly events, arranging logistics with venues and with speakers and featured organizations
Oversee day-of logistics, managing other Seamo board members and volunteers
Work with the marketing committee to develop targeted marketing strategies for each event

Skills and requirements

Experience planning medium to large events at a variety of locations on a very limited budget
Familiarity with various event locations around Seattle and ability to select the best venue for a given event
Experience planning fundraising events
Experience marketing and promoting events for a non-profit with limited marketing budget
Detail oriented and highly organized

Fundraising Committee Member

As SeaMo enters its fourth year, our programs and services continue to serve larger and larger audiences. To maintain these programs and services at minimal cost to participants, SeaMo intends to raise a general fund and is seeking a qualified individual to serve on the board’s fundraising committee. Qualified individuals will have experience running fundraising campaigns, events, or online donation drives.