About JVP Action’s Board of Directors

The Role of the Board and Expectations of its Members

Board: The Board oversees and ensures JVP Action’s fulfillment of its mission. The Board steers the organization towards a sustainable future through sound ethical and legal governance and financial oversight by ensuring JVP Action has adequate resources to advance its mission, and by advancing JVP Action strategy and positions through work with staff leadership and other JVP Action constituencies.

Staff: Programmatic and day-to-day operational decisions are the province of JVP Action’s Executive Director and its staff. The board and the Executive Director (ED) work in close partnership to achieve JVP Action’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.

While the Board is accountable to a range of stakeholders, including JVP Action members, staff, donors, and allies, its primary loyalty is to the mission of JVP Action. As such, while working closely with and in the interests of the above constituencies, the Board also functions independently. This is a core principle of governance.

The role of the Board is to support JVP Action in a variety of areas, including: 

  • Executive Director
    • Supervise ED
    • Set ED Compensation
    • ED performance review at least annually
    • Select, hire, dismiss ED as necessary
    • Partner and advise ED in development and implementation of strategic plan
  • Oversight of JVP Action
    • Fiscal: review financial reports; review and approve annual operating budget and annual audit; review material financial decisions and interventions related to the health and/or integrity of JVP Action and legal compliance..
    • Legal and Ethical: ensure compliance with relevant laws; raise and address legal or ethical questions related to JVP Action’s work.
    • Board members have fiscal and legal responsibilities for the organization’s actions.
  • Fundraising
    • Work closely with JVP Action’s fundraising team.
    • Take a leadership role in fundraising including individual donor outreach as part of the semi-annual campaigns.
  • Organizational Stewardship
    • Represent JVP Action to stakeholders and serve as ambassadors for the organization.
    • Support JVP Action’s commitment to board and staff membership that is reflective of the diversity within JVP Action and the Jewish community.
    • Support JVP Action staff in the identification and vetting of candidates for endorsement
    • Help to ensure JVP Action remains a legal, ethical, effective, and financially sustainable organization now and in the future.
  • Board Membership
    • Lead the recruiting and nominations process for new board members.

Board Member Expectations:

  • Commitment to:
    • The mission, values, and strategy of JVP Action.
    • Board unity- even when there are differences of opinion, board members will respect and uphold board decisions.
    • Conducting themselves in accordance with JVP Action core values and ethics.
    • Unfailingly honor and uphold confidentiality of all board communications and any other JVP Action matters so designated.
    • Working effectively with JVP Action staff when relevant, respectfully and in consideration of board/staff boundaries.
    • Abide by all bylaws, policies and decisions of the Board and JVP Action, regardless of any personal differences or disagreements
    • Resolving differences through constructive discussion and board-led processes.
    • Making decisions that are in the best interests of JVP Action.
    • Promoting the mission and goals of JVP Action through a range of activities, which will vary from member to member.
  • Participation:
    • Attend board meetings and ad hoc additional full meetings.
    • Serve on a minimum of one standing or significant ad hoc committee per year.  Attend committee meetings.  Substantially contribute to committee work.
    • Attend JVP Action National Member Meeting
    • Participate and/or vote in all required board governance and oversight obligations.
  • Finances/Fundraising:
    • Review and understand financial statements and budgets, and contribute to decision-making on financial issues, to ensure financial health, compliance, and prudent use of assets.
    • Consider JVP Action a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority.
    • Actively participate in fundraising. At a minimum this means participation in JVP Action’s bi-annual major donor solicitation program, but may also include donor cultivation, event hosting, personal appeals, and so on.

Time Commitment: 

  • The Board meets quarterly, usually on weekends, though occasionally on weekdays in late afternoon/evening. The Board currently meets virtually three times a year for 3-5 hours and once in person for a two day meeting).
  • All Board members serve on a committee (e.g. finance, nominations, risk management) that meets for an hour at least once a month. Committee work may be approximately five hours a month.
  • All Board members participate in grassroots fundraising twice a year, writing postcards and emails and calling major donors. This fundraising work requires 10-15 hours over the course of two-three weeks.
  • Executive Board members (President, Secretary, etc.) meet monthly with the ED and have a larger workload and greater time commitment.