Adult Board Member

Thank you for your interest in serving on GSA Network’s Board! Below you will find details about our organization, what it can look like to serve on our board, what we are looking for in board candidates, and application questions to be completed.

Application Information: Below is the written application for GSA Network’s Board of Directors. If you would like to submit a video application instead, please respond to the below questions via video and email the file to isabellan.eckart@gmail.com. We ask demographic questions to better understand the lived identities of those serving on the board, and to ensure our board demographics can also represent the demographics of the communities we serve. The demographic data we collect will only be used in aggregate, not on an individual basis. This means that we pool demographic data to see the demographics on our board as a whole, not to assess or view an individual. All responses are fully confidential and are limited to current board members. While these questions are marked as mandatory in this application, you may write “prefer not to answer” in every question for any answer you do not want to provide for any reason.

Organization Description:

Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network (GSA Network) is an intergenerational LGBTQ racial and gender justice organization that empowers and trains Queer, Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC), and allied youth leaders to advocate, organize, and mobilize an intersectional movement for safer schools and healthier communities. Our overall strategy for fighting for educational justice is to work with grassroots, youth-led groups and GSAs, empowering them to educate their schools and communities, advocate for just policies that protect LGBTQ youth from harassment and violence, and organize in coalition with other youth groups across identity lines to address broader issues of oppression.

What is the Board of Directors?

GSA Network's Board of Directors is a group of youth and adult allies who work in partnership to oversee the organization. Board members are responsible for ensuring GSA Network stays true to its mission, and engage in projects like strategic planning, fundraising, evaluating the job performance of the Co-Executive Directors, and reviewing and approving budgets and financial audits.

What is the commitment for the Board of Directors?

• 8-10 hours a month which includes the following:
  • 4-6 full board meetings a year
    • We are currently only meeting virtually via ZOOM. We hope to resume in-person meetings at least once a year.
  • Committee meetings
    • Serving on committees that work on specific tasks or projects and report back to the full board. Currently, active committees include: Executive Committee, Governance Committee, Development & Recruitment Committee, Evaluation Committee.  Committees typically collaborate on additional calls and/or by email.
  • Reading and responding to emails in a timely manner (typically 48-72 hours from the end of day when an email was sent)
  • Work with other board members to reach the Board’s collective fundraising goals.

Each board member signs a Board Contract that further details what the organization expects from board members, and what support the organization provides for board members.

What Does it Mean to be an Adult Board Member?

• GSA Network’s Board of Directors is composed of both youth and adults.
• Adults serve in partnership with Youth Board Members to fulfill the duties of the Board. Youth Board members can be between 13 - 24 in age.
• Adult board members serve 2-year terms and can serve up to 3 consecutive terms.
• Representing the organization to the public, donors, and the media.
• Engaging in strategic planning to set long term visions for the organization and movement.
• Support Board fundraising activities such as: donating directly, participating in fundraising drives, holding fundraisers, etc.

Adult board members should be at minimum 25 years of age at the time of application submission.

Adult board members will learn from the youth board members about the GSA Network programming on the ground that informs the work of the board. Travel for adult board members (anticipated 1 trip per year) is not covered by GSA Network.

GSA Network is looking for

• Adults who have familiarity with GSA Network, the GSA Movement, or other youth organizing toward racial and gender justice, or who have experience working with young people, in particular youth leadership development.
• Previous experience in non-profit settings (in particular fundraising, administration, and strategic planning) or previous service on a non-profit board.
• Adults passionate about learning about the social justice nonprofit sector and interested in nonprofit governance, experience preferred

Skills & Experiences Gained

• Strong understanding of nonprofit operations (finance, budgets, human resources, policies, etc.)
• Deepened relationships with other committed youth and adult community members on a local and national level.
• Understanding of state and national climate on LGBTQ issues.

SDG Impact