Board Member Volunteer (Engaging Communities)

Overview

Board members play a vital role in shaping and approving our strategy, ensuring the we use our resources in pursuit of our mission, and championing our vision, mission, and values within our communities and in public. The Board’s role is to oversee the management of the Foundation, and advise, challenge, and support the Executive Director without crossing into management.

The Board is structured to hold a range of experiences and differing expertise, including:

• three community-nominated volunteer seats,
• two affiliate-nominated volunteer seats,
• four appointed expert seats, and
• an honorary seat held by Jimmy Wales, the founder.

We are currently looking to fill two appointed seats. The position listed below describes some of the specific subject-matter expertise we hope to add to our Board. Deadline for submission is March 6th, 2017.

Summary

It’s clear where one significant growth path lies: engaging new audiences in emerging markets, the people we have not yet reached. The “Growing New Communities” Board seat will help us identify and enter new, developing markets—not just one, but many.

We’d like you to have some or all of these kinds of experiences:

• You see the opportunities, challenges, and risks particular regions present, are “in touch” with the general needs of the people we hope to serve, and have a sense for the right partnership coalition.
  • Perhaps you have led entry into multiple developing markets
  • Perhaps you have worked in international development or led program or product evolution
  • Perhaps you have worked in a multinational organization handling international business development in new markets for new programs, products or services
• You have applied cultural insight and local knowledge to develop meaningful, mission-driven programs or products.
• You know youth in the markets we hope to serve.
• You have been a board member for a social sector organization or company that has faced similar challenges (e.g. growth in the social sector, entering new markets while staying true to the brand, shifting an organization to think toward the future).

The commitment:

Board members serve for three-year, renewable terms. Each year, the Board convenes four times in person at different locations around the world and three to six times online as necessary. Meetings require coordination with members across the world and across time zones. Overall, the time commitment for standard service is roughly 75 hours per year (not including travel). Board members may additionally choose to dedicate time to one or more Board committees, supporting and providing counsel to the Executive Director and her team, or promoting the Wikimedia movement through speaking engagements and connecting with the Wikimedia communities. All Board positions are unpaid and provided in service of the movement.

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