SOAR with US!
Interests: neurodiversity, struggling students, alternative school, helping kids be successful in public school, arts/crafts/enrichment classes and camps, and community collaboration
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“The last 4 weeks here at home have been truly amazing...Traditionally, the first month of school is really difficult at home.”
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We teach kids how to "Soar with your strengths. Manage your weaknesses." We believe kids should work on skills needed to become independent, successful adults, but this includes NOT working on what they aren't good at all day long. Struggling kids deserve opportunities for fun and future career explorations too.
We are one of the few organizations in OR that specializes in working with kids who are neurodivergent (ADHD, Autism, dyslexia, etc.), and we do this through:
1.) OR Department of Education-approved Alternative School to help students build their success skills to transition back to their general education school. Collaboration with the districts is important.
2.) Tutoring & Homeschool Support/Classes
3.) Enrichment Camps/Classes (mostly through Bend Parks and Rec)
Our programs provide an array of services, expand our community outreach, and diversify our income.
Who Are We Looking For in a Board Member?
We are looking for those wanting to help families find HOPE. As a successful neurodivergent person herself (ADHD, dyslexia), Heather, Samara's Executive Director, believes that our motto "Soar with your strengths" should be implemented in the business structure too, so we are looking for people who strengthen the organization with their diverse skills and perspectives. Along with the questions at the beginning of the page, we could use someone with a legal background, more people with financial/business management experience, and private/charter/homeschool experience. Like many nonprofits, we've had some difficulties building our board back from the Pandemic challenges, but Samara perseveres and is growing. We are ready to strengthen our foundations, assess program viability, and dream for the future.
Time commitment: Board meetings 4 times a year, some email communication, attending committee meetings when needed, and participating in fundraising events.
Board Member Expectations:
- Support Executive Center Director
- Transition Exec. Director away from teaching roles
- Recruit, mentor and maintain a competent Board Members
- Recruit and train volunteers
- Secure partnerships with other Nonprofits
- Protect Assets (with input from all staff and stakeholders)
- Ensure adequate financial resources; fundraising, grant writing, allocate budget for staff and programs
- Ensure effective business planning; enhance brand, market to larger community
- Ensure Legal and Ethical Integrity
- Clarify and advocate for Samaras’ mission
- Evaluate Program’s Effectiveness
Board Members At-Large
Nonprofits’ Board of Directors is the governing body, overseeing vision, mission, and internal operations of the organization. Board members are elected for two-year terms.
1) Board members hold overall fiscal and managerial oversight responsibility for the Nonprofit.
2) They are charged with the supervision and oversight of the Nonprofits’ mission.
3) They are responsible for making decisions, delegating work, and assuring decisions are carried out in the manner intended.
4) Ultimately, board members serve as ambassadors for the mission, inside and outside of organizational commitments.
Qualifications for Service
- Past or current engagement with Society for Nonprofits (e.g., partnership, membership, content providers, etc.)
- Interest in and willingness to support Society for Nonprofits’ goals and objectives
- Initiative
- Integrity
- Analytical ability
- Sensitivity and awareness
- Leadership
- Sound decision-making ability
- Planning skills
- Ability to organize and monitor work
- Collaborative
- Ability to easily use email and other technology such as cloud services
- Commitment to open and honest communication
*We do not discriminate based on an individual's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age or disability, or because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age, or disability of any other persons with whom the individual associates.
We look forward to talking with you!
