Things to consider first:

• Everyone, without regard for race, ethnicity, gender, etc. may be a member of our board of trustees.

• This is not a working board, so responsibilities are minimal to respect your time and graciousness.

• By volunteering to serve on the HLC board of trustees, you will have a chance to use your skills to support an organization that focuses on amplifying Indigenous voices, providing internships for Indigenous students and young professionals, and providing opportunities for community-led projects.

• Board members can be located anywhere in the United States or abroad as our mission is international in scope. Virtual attendance is possible for all board and committee meetings.

• Board members can expect to devote approximately 1-2 hours a month on board service, and it is often times less than that.

• If you share our passion for this mission, have organization-building skills, and a little time and energy to donate, you can make a huge difference in the lives of Indigenous young people and their communities.

The HLC Board of Trustees as a whole is responsible for: 

• Establishing and reviewing the mission, vision, scope, and strategic goals for HLC.

• Ensuring HLC programs and administration are conducted in alignment with mission, vision, scope, and strategic goals.

• Developing policies to govern the organization including financial, fundraising, personnel, business ethics, volunteer management, and the well-functioning of the board itself.

• Selecting and evaluating the performance of the HLC executive leadership.

• Providing fiduciary oversight and oversight of compliance with HLC bylaws.

Individual Board Members can expect to: 

• Attend quarterly virtual meetings; typically an hour long.

• Serve as an ambassador for HLC and share fundraising requests with your network.

• To the best of your ability, fulfill your officer role.

• Support the other officers in fulfilling their roles.

• Reviewing agenda and supporting materials thoroughly prior to board meetings.

• Respond to between-meeting communications from officers and staff.

• Review HLC’s governance documents by accessing a shared drive.

• Annually signing the conflict of interest policy.

Board Officer Roles & Responsibilities:

• President

  • Preside at all meetings of the board of trustees.

  • See that all orders and resolutions of the board of trustees are carried into effect.

  • Perform all other duties incident to the office of president of the board and as from time to time may be assigned to the president by the board of trustees.

  • Serve as a mentor and a resource to the HLC executive leadership.

• Vice-President

  • Support the president in all their duties.

  • Shall have the same duties and powers, subject to supervision by the president.

• Secretary

  • Schedule board meetings.

  • Coordinate with the board president and executive director on agenda items for meetings. Send out agenda at least a day prior to a board meeting.

  • Keep the minutes of the proceedings of the board of trustees.

  • In general, perform all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the secretary by the president, the board of trustees, or the executive director.

• Assistant Secretaries

  • Shall have the same duties and powers, subject to supervision by the secretary.

• Treasurer

  • Be the principal financial officer of the corporation and have the care and custody of all its funds, securities, evidences of indebtedness, and other property.

  • Oversee and supervise the executive leadership in all matters related to the financial accountability of the corporation.

  • Perform all other duties incident to the office of treasurer, and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the treasurer by the president or the board of trustees.

• Assistant Treasurers

  • Shall have the same duties and powers, subject to supervision by the treasurer.

• Fundraising Chairs

  • Develop and implement annual fundraising plans.

  • Update and maintain a contact list of existing donors.

  • Maintain and develop existing donor relationships.

  • Identify and nurture potential individual donors or donor organizations.

  • Develop and implement fundraising efforts.

• Governance Chairs

  • Identify and recruit potential board members to fill vacancies or any additional needs of the board.

  • Nominate candidates to specific board roles.

  • Update board roles and responsibilities as appropriate.

  • Provide incoming board members an orientation and adequate information to succeed in their role on the board.

  • Review the board’s performance, practices, policies, etc. and propose updates, additions, changes, etc. for the long-term sustainability of the organization and board.

  • Amend and/or develop the bylaws and other board policies.

• Outreach and Public Relations Chairs

  • Post to HLC social media channels, update the website, and send email newsletters.

  • Pursue any additional outreach as appropriate. These could include the following: additional social media platforms, event tables, press releases, conference presentations, youtube, podcast, radio, blogs, etc.

  • Create and update HLC marketing documents.

  • Build and maintain external relationships, except donors.

We promise we won’t take up too much of your time and you’ll have a lot of fun and meet really cool people!