Join Roots. Wounds. Words.

RWW Seeks Board Members

CALL TO JOIN THE RWW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Roots. Wounds. Words. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers visionary literary arts programming including educational workshops, storyteller performances, publication opportunities, and a semi-annual writers’ retreat for Us BIPOC literary artists. Especially Us BIPOC literary artists who are also Us queer, Us trans. Us gender nonconforming. Us justice-involved. Us poverty-born. Us disabled. Us neuro-divergent. Us made of intersectional identities. Us brazen.

Us. 

RWW ensures that Black, Latinx, Indigenous American, Asian, Southeast Asian, and all People of the Global Majority have a safe, inclusive space to craft and tell our stories.

RWW is experiencing tremendous growth and possibility. We are expanding our board of directors and are recruiting six individuals with experience and knowledge of working on nonprofit boards. We seek board members with expertise in development, financial planning, marketing, law, and the arts.

THE ROLE OF THE BOARD

The board serves as the leadership body of the organization. The board must satisfy its legal and fiduciary duties. The board is responsible for:

• Determining the mission and purpose(s) of the organization.

• Ensuring strong fiduciary oversight and financial management to protect the organization and its integrity.

• Strategic and organizational planning.

• Fundraising and resource development.

• Approving and monitoring the organization’s programs and services.

• Enhancing the organization's reach to the community it seeks to serve.

• Developing and adhering to board policies that are cohesive with the bylaws.

• Assessing its performance as the governing body of the organization.

THE ROLE OF BOARD INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

Each board member is expected to:

• Know the organization's mission, policies, programs, and needs

• Identify growth areas.

• Read and understand the organization’s financial statements.

• Serve for a term of two years.

• Understand that this is a non-paid volunteer position where you are serving the organization.

• Serve as advocates and ambassadors for the organization, identifying and securing the necessary financial resources and partnerships. Attend events relevant to this cause.

• Build connections, networks, and resources that support RWW’s work.

• Commit to spending 20 hours monthly promoting, enriching, and growing RWW.

• Contribute $500/year to the organization.

• Prepare for, attend, and conscientiously participate in monthly board meetings.

• Participate in one or more committees.

• Follow the organization's bylaws, policies, and board resolutions.

• Sign an annual conflict-of-interest disclosure and update it during the year, if necessary. Also, disclose potential conflicts before meetings and actual conflicts during meetings.

• Maintain confidentiality about all internal matters of the organization.

• Embody and collaborate in maintaining the culture of Roots. Wounds. Words.

PHILANTHROPIC GIFT

RWW’s Board must consider RWW a philanthropic priority and make a meaningful annual financial gift that reflects that priority. To credibly solicit contributions from foundations, organizations, and individuals, each Board member has a minimum yearly give/get contribution of $500 due within 30 days of their acceptance to the Board and on January 1st  of every following year in office. 

BOARD COMMITTEES

Each Board member is required to participate in a Board Committee. The RWW Board Committees include:

• Development and fundraising—the primary focus is to fundraise for and network to move RWW’s fiscal strategy and vision forward.

• Marketing and promotion—the primary focus is to promote RWW’s programs and offerings to a wide network of storytellers and other stakeholders.

• Programs—the primary focus is to assist with the ideation of programs and offerings intended to support RWW’s constituencies.

TERM OF OFFICE

Two years.

COMPENSATION

All Board directors (including Board officers) generously volunteer their time, experience, and connections in a fully-remote capacity without financial compensation. All board members can attend our programming (craft talks and workshops) for free.

TIME COMMITMENT

Board directors are expected to volunteer at least 20 hours/month (Executive Committee meetings, monthly Board meetings, and Board Chair responsibilities as outlined above).

BENEFITS OF BOARD MEMBERSHIP

In addition to the satisfaction received by serving RWW’s mission and uplifting the literary art of BIPOC poets and writers, board members may attend select Roots. Wounds. Words. programming (e.g., workshops and craft talks) for free. Past faculty include Jesmyn Ward, Ken Liu, Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez, Deesha Philyaw, Fariha Roisin, Kiese Laymon, K-Ming Chang, Roxane Gay, and many more. 

Board members are encouraged to participate in as much programming as possible to experience our work on the ground. 

BOARD RECRUITMENT & SUCCESSION PLANNING

The Board is currently recruiting for six more Board members. Within three (3) months of service, the new Board will vote on an Executive Committee, which will then recruit additional Board Members on a timeline determined by the new Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will:

• Co-lead the recruitment and appointment of additional Board members.

• Co-create a skills matrix to maintain a balanced and effective Board.

• Co-develop succession processes to recruit, select, and onboard new Board Members and ensure a smooth transition between Board terms.

HOW TO APPLY 

To express interest in joining the RWW Board of Directors, please complete the RWW Board of Directors Application by 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2024.