Board Member for Teen Parenting and Homelessness Prevention Organization

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The mission of Blessings Working Together, Inc. (BWT) is to provide a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where teen mothers who are at risk for homelessness can receive counseling, learn parenting and life skills, and connect with partner resources to support independence. The Board of Directors support the work of BWT and provide mission-based leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are led by BWT’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Board-CEO relationship is a partnership, and the appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected. General Board Member responsibilities include:

• Maintaining knowledge of the organization and a personal commitment to its goals and objectives.
• Serving as a trusted advisor to the CEO as she develops and implements BWT’s strategic Reviewing agenda and supporting materials prior to Board and committee.
• Assisting the CEO in identifying and recruiting other Board Members.
• Serving on committees or task forces and taking on special assignments. Representing BWT to stakeholders; acting as an ambassador for the organization.
• Ensuring BWT’s commitment to a diverse Board and staff that reflects the communities BWT.

FUNDRAISING: BWT Board Members will consider BWT a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority. So that BWT can credibly solicit contributions from foundations, organizations, and individuals, BWT expects to have 100% of Board Members make an annual contribution of $1,000 (give or raise).

TIME COMMITMENT: BWT’s Board Members must continue to meet attendance, monetary, and participation requirements. The time commitment for individual Board duties is estimated at 1-5 hours a month, depending on the time of year. Board meetings will be held quarterly; the frequency of committee meetings will vary. Service on BWT’s Board is without remuneration, except for reimbursement for administrative support costs in relation to Board Members’ duties.

QUALIFICATIONS: This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about BWT’s mission and who has a track record of Board leadership. Selected Board Members will have achieved leadership stature in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. His/her accomplishments will allow him/her to attract other well-qualified, high-performing Board Members. Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:

Extensive professional experience with significant executive leadership accomplishments in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. A commitment to and understanding of BWT’s beneficiaries, preferably based on education and/or experience. Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals. Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of BWT’s beneficiaries.

SKILLS:
Business Development & Sales Management Fundraising
Grant Writing / Research
Community Outreach
Resource Development / Management
Social Work

REQUIREMENTS:
Background Check
Orientation or Training

The time commitment for individual Board duties is estimated at 1-5 hours a month, depending on the time of year. Board meetings will be held quarterly; the frequency of committee meetings will vary. BWT expects to have 100% of Board Members make an annual contribution of $1,000 (give or raise).

Mission Statement:

Blessings Working Together’s mission is to provide a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where teen mothers who are at risk for homelessness can receive counseling, learn parenting and life skills, and connect with partner resources to support independence.

Description:

Parenting at any age can be challenging, but it can be particularly difficult for adolescent parents. By investing in teen parents today, Blessings Working Together protects the future of two generations: the young parents themselves and their babies. Our goal is to collectively work to improve the lives of young, overlooked and impoverished families to alleviate the pressures of financial, economic, and family barriers. Through our programs and practices, we aim to mitigate and eliminate their risk for homelessness, build stronger families, and empower communities to thrive, one family or person, at a time. The focus of our programs is to identify and address their risk factors and facilitate a smooth and successful transition to self-sustainability and independence. Our program’s focus areas include:

❶ Life-Skills Training

❷ Housing

❸ Education

❹ Employment and Career

❺ Economic Mobility

❻ Healthy Children and Families

❼ Community-Life Functioning

BWT programs will not only provide life skills to those below the poverty line, but they will also ensure that each person gains an increased self-awareness, confidence, and improvement in their ability to excel academically, perform a job effectively, engage as parents and peers, manage finances, maintain safe living standards, ultimately increasing in their motivation to succeed.