Neighborcare Health is one of Seattle’s largest community health system, or Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Our focus is to provide care for low-income and uninsured individuals and families. For 55 years, Neighborcare Health has served people in Seattle and King County’s who face barriers to health care, ensuring a healthy and safe city for all.
Today Neighborcare Health serves 60,000 people per year, who access care through almost 30 medical, dental, and school based sites as well as programs in homeless shelters, on the streets, and in supportive housing.
Neighborcare Health has been steadily increasing its philanthropic presence, and continued fundraising success is necessary to grow services for the quarter million low-income people not yet served by a health center in King County.
Additionally, potential changes in federal policy may threaten Neighborcare Health’s ability to maintain current levels of service. In this worst-case scenario, we are confident the community will stand up to support our work and our neighbors. But we know we must increase our fundraising capacity to match the need.
While most non-profit boards are recruited for fundraising capacity, Neighborcare Health’s board is required to have 51% or greater consumer representation. While this provides authentic patient experience, it also results in a board not optimally suited to fundraise.
To strengthen our relationship to the philanthropic and business communities, Neighborcare Health is considering creating a 509 support organization, the Neighborcare Health Foundation.
THE NEIGHBORCARE HEALTH FOUNDATION
Purpose: Work closely with Neighborcare board, leaders, and staff, to ensure Neighborcare Health has adequate financial resources to fulfill its mission.
Commitment: Three-year terms with option to renew. The committee will meet 8 times per year (2nd Wednesday from 9 am – 11 am at Pacific Tower). Board members can expect to devote from 2-4 hours/month to board business.
Membership: 10-13 Board Members to grow fundraising with an emphasis on major and corporate gifts.
Expectations: Volunteer Board Members will help champion Neighborcare Health by initiating and cultivating relationships with donors and potential donors and will advise staff on development strategy. Members are expected to:
- Work with staff to identify potential donors, including corporations, foundations, and individuals and help connect them to Neighborcare Health
- Open doors and/or approach peers for gifts to Neighborcare
- Help to thank and steward donors
- Annually review the staff-driven work plan, strategies, and goals, and make recommendations
- Attend meetings on a consistent basis (80% attendance)
- Identify and recruit additional Foundation Board members as needed
- Be an ambassador for Neighborcare Health in the community
- Be responsive to strategic direction from the Board of Neighborcare Health and make recommendations to the Board on development initiatives
- Support Neighborcare Health’s fundraising events. These include:
- Hosting a table at Spring Dinner
- Bringing friends to Feast at the Market
- Helping solicit sponsors for Spring Dinner and Feast at the Market
- Make an annual gift that is personally significant
Professional support
- The board will be fully staffed and supported by Neighborcare’s development team, led by the Director of Development.
- Board members will be provided with case materials, training, and any other tools needed to fulfill their roles.
