The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Washington State (NAMI Washington) is accepting nominations from community leaders for its Board of Directors. Nomination applications are due by July 5th. Nominees will be vetted during the month of July, and decisions will be made in August.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness – Washington (NAMI WA) is the state office of NAMI. NAMI WA supports the work of 20 local affiliates throughout the state in communities large and small. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for all those affected by mental illness through a multi-pronged program of education and training, providing a statewide unifying voice for legislative advocacy, and support and recovery.
Function: The NAMI Washington Board of Directors provides governance to the organization, is responsible for fund development and fund raising, represents the organization to the community, and accepts the ultimate legal authority for the organization. (NAMI Washington holds Directors and Officers Insurance)
Roles & Responsibilities
- Attend all scheduled and special meetings of the Board of Directors, either in person or via video conferencing (as available) or telephone conference.
- Review and approve the organization's philosophy and review management's performance in achieving it.
- Annually assess the environment and approve the organization's strategy in relation to it.
- Annually review and approve the organization's plans for financial goals, budget, and funding its strategy.
- Support organization financially and in-kind where appropriate and fully participate in all statewide fundraising events and efforts.
- Serve on at least one NAMI Washington committee, including the potential of chairing the committee.
- Approve major policies related to organizational and employee governance.
Organization
- Hire, supervise and evaluate the Executive Director/CEO and establish their compensation based on recommendations of the Governance Committee or Board President.
- Propose a slate of directors, to be presented by the Nominating Committee, to Affiliates for consideration and vote at the general annual membership meeting.
- Fill board vacancies as needed.
- Annually self-review the performance of the Board and take steps to improve its performance.
- Create and update an organizational Succession Plan for key employees and board officers.
Operations
- Review the results achieved by management as compared with the Organization's philosophy, annual, and long-range goals, and the performance of similar Organizations.
- Be certain that the financial structure of the Organization is adequate for its current needs and its long- range strategy.
- Provide candid and constructive analysis, advice, and comments.
- Approve major actions of the Organization, such as capital expenditures and major program and service changes.
- Be assured that the Board and its committees are adequately and currently informed - through reports and other methods - of the condition of the Organization and its operations.
- Be assured that published reports properly reflect the operating results and financial condition of the Organization.
- Ascertain that management has established appropriate policies to define and identify conflicts of interest throughout the Organization and is diligently administering and enforcing those policies.
- Review compliance with relevant material laws affecting the Organization.
- Contribute to a sense of camaraderie and teamwork.
- Act as a guardian of NAMI Washington’s reputation and mission.
Time Commitment & Board Terms
- Board Terms: A full board term is 3 years, and board members may serve two consecutive terms. New board members fill 1, 2 and 3 year terms, so board members roll off the board at different times. Term preference, if one exists, should be discussed during vetting.
- ~ 2 to 5 hours per month with the exception of the month of the annual retreat, which would be ~10 hours.
- Board meetings are held every other month for a total of 6-7 board meetings per year. There is always the option of conferencing into the meeting if not able to make it in person.
