EVERY CHILD DESERVES A SAFE HOME
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Board of Director Membership


​The Board of Directors supports the work of Children First, Inc., and its family of programs, while providing mission-based leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are led by Children First, Inc.’s Executive Director, the Board-Executive Director relationship is a partnership, and the appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected.


Interested? 

Children First, Inc is looking for enthusiastic and energetic new board members to help us grow into our next phase. Children First, Inc. is the home of Athens-Oconee CASA, SafeCare and Supportive Access and Resource Center (SPARC) where we work with families in our community and the courts to promote safe, stable and nurturing living environments for children. 

Over the next few years we will be expanding services, staff, volunteers, space and funding to meet the growing needs of families in our area. As our organization expands we need our board to match. Here are some examples of experiences and/or expertise that we are looking for in board members. Applicants with one or more of these experiences and/or expertise, would be great candidates.  
  • Chamber Member
  • Previous Experience with our services
  • Human Resource Experience
  • Fundraising at Large Individual or Corporate Donors
  • Experience spearheading a Capital Fundraising Campaign
  • Technology Platform expertise
  • Current/Previous Executive Director of Non-profit Organization
  • Previous experience of being on a Board of Directors
  • Business Owner/ Entrepreneur
  • Architect
  • Civil Engineer
​

 Qualifications

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about Children First, Inc.’s mission. Selected Board Members will have achieved leadership stature in business, education, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. Their accomplishments will allow them to attract other well-qualified, high-performing Board Members.

Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:
  • Extensive professional experience with significant leadership accomplishments in business, educational, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector 
  • A commitment to and understanding of the Children First, Inc. family of programs and the services they offer, preferably based on experience 
  • Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships, while convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals 
  • Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of Children First, Inc’s beneficiaries
  • Candidates must be 21 years of age and successfully pass a national criminal background check that allows the candidate to work with/around children as well as other possible violence against children pre-screens.
Service on Children First, Inc.’s Board of Directors is without remuneration.
​

Board Terms & Participation

Children First, Inc.’s Board Members serve a three-year term, with the option to be serve an additional three-year term upon Board approval. Board meetings will be held on a yearly preset schedule. This schedule averages nine board meetings a year, 9 committee meetings a year, and bi-monthly fundraising/community-awareness events, which Board Members are expected to attend. There is an eighty (80) percent attendance commitment expectation. Committee meetings will be held in coordination with full board meetings as needed.

Application & Additional Documents

Board Application.pdf
File Size: 149 kb
File Type: pdf
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Board Job Description.pdf
File Size: 93 kb
File Type: pdf
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Board Committee Structure.pdf
File Size: 81 kb
File Type: pdf
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Board Recruiting Policy.pdf
File Size: 39 kb
File Type: pdf
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Board Screening Policy.pdf
File Size: 39 kb
File Type: pdf
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Committee Members

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Currently, we have some seats available in our External Committee in our Capital Campaign, Marketing and Events sub-committees.  Each Sub-Committee will have Children First board member and/or staff participation. One does not have to be a board member to participate in these committees. 

The External Committee focuses on issues such as fundraising, public relations and marketing. 
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​​

Fundraising

  • For annual budget input, the committee examines each event’s forecasted sponsorship revenue, participant fees or contributions against the event expenses to insure sufficient net revenue can be achieved in budget 
  • Present yearly fundraising plan to the board 
  • In partnership with the Executive Director, create and direct fundraising events, determines the job duties [tasks] of staff and volunteers to plan, conduct, follow-up and evaluate each fundraising event; recruits, trains, supports and thanks volunteers ​

Marketing, Public Relations, Community & Volunteer Engagement

Coordinate with the staff to develop a comprehensive annual Communications Plan with specific activities, timelines and accountability of staff or board; plan development can include review of: 
*community engagement and presentations to build public awareness of CF programs and needs 
*electronic/digital methods such as web site, social media platforms, print material, media promotions 
  • As coordinated with staff, help recruit volunteers for center operations, fundraising events and special projects 
  • Monitors compliance with confidentiality policies of clients within all areas of internal & external promotions 
  • Partner with staff in securing board member volunteers to help represent agency at community exhibits/events 
  • Help identify potential sponsors/partners from board member relationships and networks; coordinate solicitation with Executive Director to effectively match the interests and resources of potential sponsors with CF program needs and/or the options within the annual fundraising appeals or events 
To reach these goals we have multiple subcommittees in the External Committee. Fundraising, Capital, Events, and Marketing.  
We are looking for individuals who are dedicated, detail oriented, punctual, enthusiastic, committed and able to follow through with assigned tasks. We are asking for about 2-6 hrs of service a month.  

We are looking for 2-3 volunteers for each subcommittee.  
A great candidate for this work would have experience that includes someone who has marketing, public relations, graphic design, event planning, fundraising, social media, and/or publications experience, but it is not limited to ​

Fundraising Committee Member

 This is a volunteer position that would help build funding opportunities for Children First Inc’s yearly budget 
A good fit for this position would be someone with: 
  • Great verbal communication skills 
  • Experience with fundraising  
  • Experience with investments, endowments and/or large planned gifts 
  • large network  
  • Creative and able to think outside of the box 
The tasks at hand would be:  
  • Creating a yearly fundraising plan to meet budgetary needs  
  • Help the organization increase yearly contributions  
  • Help identify potential sponsors/partners relationships and networks; coordinate solicitation with Executive Director to effectively match the interests and resources of potential sponsors with CF program needs and/or the options within the annual fundraising appeals or events 
 ​

Capital Campaign Committee Member

This is a volunteer position that would help build large funding opportunities for  Children First Inc’s expansion ($1. Million over 3-5 years).  
A good fit for this position would be someone with: 
  • Great verbal communication skills 
  • Experience with large businesses, foundations 
  • Experience with previous Capital Campaigns, investments, endowments and/or large planned gifts 
  • large network  
  • Creative and able to think outside of the box 
The tasks at hand would be:  
Phase 1 (2022-2023)  
  • Create a capital campaign committee   
  • Undertake financial feasibility plan  
  • Creating list of all level asks before campaign is public  
  • Ask list  
Phase 2 (2023-2024)  
  • Roll-out Capital Campaign Private marketing  
  • Get 20-30% of actual/ pledges for campaign  
  • Roll-out Capital Campaign Public marketing  
  • Start asking next level gifts before campaign is public  

Event Planning & Execution Committee Member

This is a volunteer position that would help build Children First’s public engagement.  
 
A good fit for this position would be someone with: 
  • high written and verbal communication skills 
  • Experience participating, planning small (50 people) to large (200 people) in-door and outdoor events   
  • large network  
  • Creative and able to think outside of the box 
  • Attend and host events for Children First. Inc.  
The tasks at hand would be:  
  • Finalize yearly calendar of events 
  • Structure, plan, prepare and host 4-6 events a year 
  • Partner with staff in securing board member volunteers to help represent agency at community exhibits/events  

Marketing & Communications Committee Member

This is a volunteer position that would help build Children First’s marketability.  
A good fit for this position would be someone with: 
  • high written and verbal communication skills 
  • Publication experience  
  • navigate and participate in social media, graphic design,  
  • large social network  
  • Creative and able to think outside of the box 
  • Digital accessibility 
  • Experience with website creation, Adobe, Photoshop, Canva, etc.    
  • Experience in great marketing plans successfully for businesses or volunteer projects 
The tasks at hand would be:  
  • (Phase 1) Coordinate with the staff to develop a comprehensive Capital Campaign marketing plan with specific activities, timelines and accountability of staff or board; plan development can include review of:  
  • Create visual, graphics and images that will embody the campaign.   
  • electronic/digital methods such as web site, social media platforms, print material, media promotions (Adobe, Canva, Photoshop)  
  • Reviewing Target Personas for Capital Campaign 
  • Help implement plan for keeping marketing active through social media, print and radio ads 
  • Coordinate with the staff to develop a comprehensive annual Communications Plan with specific activities, timelines and accountability of staff or board; plan development can include review of:  
  • *community engagement and presentations to build public awareness of CF programs and needs  
  • *electronic/digital methods such as web site, social media platforms, print material, media promotions (Adobe, Canva, Photoshop)  
  • *Reviewing Target Personas for Marketing Campaigns  
  • *Help implement plan for keeping marketing active through social media, print and radio ads 

Expansion Committee

The goal of this group will be to evaluate our current office space and look into expansion and potential alternatives as Children First and it's program grow and develop.
  • Help envision and determine the best space for our clients and staff
  • Evaluate current ground lease and create plans to speak with the holder of the land lease
  • Determine details of building out
  • Research alternative office spaces and details​
  • A great candidate would be a big vision person, creative, experience with real-estate, construction experience, real estate law, but not limited to. The work will be done virtually as well in person and should be about 2-5 hours a month of service.   

Children First, Inc
693 North Pope Street
Athens, GA 30601

Phone: 706.613.1922
Fax: 706.316.3616
info@childrenfirst-inc.org

Photo used under Creative Commons from Parker Knight
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Meet Our Board
    • Meet Our Interns
    • Mission, Value & Vision
    • Employment >
      • CASA Community OUtreach Coordinator
      • Internships
    • Financials
  • Programs
    • Athens-Oconee CASA
    • SafeCare >
      • COVID 19 Protocol
    • SPARC
  • COVID-19
  • Volunteer
  • News & Events
    • Annual Report
    • Blog
    • Newsletter
    • Events
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Board Applications