Simply Grace is looking for board members within the DFW area who are willing to be an active force in the organization's ecosystem, actively promoting our interests and sharing resources and networks to expand awareness and support of Simply Grace. Simply Grace exists to provide a safe, structured environment to assist women recovering from substance abuse, help to rebuild their lives, and achieve long-term recovery. We are a non-profit organization with 5 women's sober living homes, an Intensive Outpatient Program and a thrift store. Our vision is to empower women to fulfill their purpose by introducing them to multiple pathways to long-term recovery. Our program is guided by spiritual solutions based on the 12 Step programs. Our goal is to support alignment in the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional health through structure and accountability.

Simply Grace Board members are responsible for determining the mission of the organization. Normally that seems like something they would do during the startup phase of the nonprofit, but missions can change over time. During the growth of Simply Grace, board members are responsible for keeping the organization focused so mission creep doesn’t happen. Board members should be able to help decide if the programs and services Simply Grace currently has are pertinent to the mission. They should also help create new programs and services that accomplish the mission and help raise the funds necessary.

2. Select the Executive Director

The Board of Directors is responsible for hiring, supporting and overseeing the Executive Director of Simply Grace. The board should ensure that the Executive Director has the moral and professional support she needs to further the goals of the organization.The Board has one employee to oversee: the Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for managing staff and volunteers and running day-to-day operations. Ideally, the Board and Executive Director will work together as partners to lead the nonprofit, especially on the strategic plan, fundraising, and overall evaluation of the organization. The Board is responsible for providing an annual performance evaluation for the Executive Director. The Board should create a clear process for conducting this evaluation and identify specific Board members to carry out the evaluation on behalf of the entire Board. Everyone should be very clear about when and how evaluations should take place, preferably done at the same time each year.

3. Provide Proper Financial Oversight

It’s the Board’s job to provide financial oversight for the organization and protect Simply Grace’s assets. The Board will be responsible for monitoring how closely financial activity matches the actual budget, looking into how much programs and services cost, and whether that cost is appropriate. They should put internal controls in place and help write policies to prevent loss, theft, or confusion, using current best practices. The Board should inspect the balance sheet and income statement regularly, preferably monthly, and they are responsible for making sure you meet the legal and tax obligations.

4. Ensure Adequate Resources

Board members should actively participate in an overall planning process and assist in implementing and monitoring the plan's goals and want the organization to succeed! And they should be willing to help raise money to ensure the organization has the resources it needs to succeed. All board members should be involved in fundraising in some capacity during the year. It may be helpful to put the expectations for Board members in writing so it’s clear what is considered “participation in fundraising.” Board members each have different skills and personalities, and some will be better at asking for money than others. Try to find each member a place to help where they can excel instead of asking every Board member to do the same job (which won’t work). The board is encouraged to leverage their professional and social relationships to bring new supporters to the table. The Board should also make personal financial contributions to the nonprofit that they serve on the Board of. Having 100% Board giving is important for getting grants and also lets donors know that the entire Board is fully behind the nonprofit.

5. Ensure Legal and Ethical Integrity and Maintain Accountability

The Board is responsible for making sure that Simply Grace operates with the laws that govern it at the local, state, and national level. That can mean things like submitting annual corporate paperwork to the state, submitting revenue/tax information to appropriate agencies (in the US it’s the IRS), and renewing solicitation permits. Every Board member should be familiar with the organization’s bylaws and adhere to them. Bylaws are the organization’s internal rules of operation and if they are out of date or not followed, Simply Grace is out of integrity with itself. The Board should make sure the organization has a system for keeping accurate records in case they are requested by government agencies or donors. The Board should help create and maintain a code of ethics for the organization. Ultimately, the Board is responsible for making sure that the nonprofit is in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. One of the board's foremost responsibilities is to secure adequate resources for the organization to fulfill its mission.

6. Ensure Effective Organizational Planning

The Board is responsible for both short-term and long-term strategic planning. In conjunction with key staff and volunteers, the Board needs to make realistic plans that take into account the organization’s vision, the community’s needs, and the external context in which your nonprofit operates. The Board should also be involved in planning for accountability and evaluation of the strategic plan once it’s implemented. This means reviewing the cost of operating programs, appropriate levels of cost, and whether programs or services should be initiated or discontinued.

7. Recruit and Orient New Board Members and Assess Board Performance

The Board is responsible for recruiting new board members, although it’s best done in partnership with your Executive Director. Start by identifying the skills, expertise, and connections you need in new Board members to take your organization to the next level. Once you recruit new Board members, it’s the Board’s job to orient them to help them understand their roles. Your Board members with just a year’s experience can be very helpful in this process since they’re the last ones to come through it. Your Board should also periodically perform a self-assessment to evaluate their performance and identify areas for development. This is different from an overall evaluation of the organization. It’s simply to evaluate how the Board might be more effective in their role. These evaluations need not be judgmental or focus only on the negative.

8. Enhance the Organization's Public Standing

Board members should always be prepared to speak well of the organization and advocate for its services. They are a bridge between your nonprofit and the community, the media, and government entities. Because they donate their time, people in the community tend to respect the fact that they are part of something they really believe in. Each Board member should remember that they may be the only ambassador of your organization that some people meet. The Board should work to create the public brand of the organization as well. Together with the Executive Director, they should decide who the public spokesperson is, what they should say, and how they should interface with the media.

9. Determine, Monitor, and Strengthen the Organization's Programs and Services

Board members should have detailed knowledge of who participates in or takes advantage of your major programs and services. They should be watching for participation trends in the numbers and categories of people served. Simply Grace Board of Directors will be helping decide what portion of the annual budget is devoted to programs and services, so it’s important to know what’s working, what’s not working, and what needs to be improved on. The Board should work with the Executive Director to develop a way to measure the success of your programs and participants’ satisfaction with their experience in your programs.