habitat for humanity weber/davis counties

Habitat for Humanity’s National Affiliate Conference 2011

Habitat for Humanity Weber/Davis Counties – Board and Committees

What is My Role? Finding Your Seat at the Table


What kind of board do we have?Working BoardBoard members who physically perform tasks and duties of the affiliate

Governing BoardBoard members who provide guidance, input, oversight into

the operations of the affiliate

Weber/Davis Habitat currently has a Working Board. Our desire is to work towards more of a Governing Board.


Board CommitteesBoard committees carry out functions that only the board can handle.

ExecutiveFinancePersonnel (functions are currently a part of executive committee)

Nominating


Board of Directors• One, Two or Three year terms• Board Meetings– 3rd Thursday of each month– 2955 Harrison Blvd. Ogden, UT 84403– 6:00 p.m. (1-1.5 hour meeting)

• Financial commitments from board members and their companies are encouraged but not required.

• Other volunteer opportunities are available upon availability


Board of Directors - Expectation

• Participate on or Chair at least one committee• Recruit volunteers, board members & funding• Attend annual full day board planning meeting• Contribute financially to Habitat for Humanity

at a level that is personally meaningful.• Average hours for board members 5 to 20

hours per month.


Board of Directors - SkillsIn order to create a diverse board, we are looking for people with one or more of the following skills:– Financial, accounting, book keeping–Marketing, Public Relations, Fund Raising– Construction, building trades– Leadership, Sense of Humor– Volunteer Training and Supervising


CommitteesBoard - Executive

This committee is responsible for and ensures that the board is doing its work and can at times act on behalf of the full board. Its main purpose is to facilitate decision making in between board meetings or in the case of a crisis or other urgent circumstances. It acts as the communications link to the chief executive (executive director) and performs their evaluation.


Committees

Board - FinanceThis committee is responsible for and ensures the

affiliate’s financial stability. It is also responsible for the budget and audit functions, creating and implementing good stewardship policies, and ensuring that there are no deficits in funding. Finance also works with the monthly financial reports, bank accounts, and mortgage servicing.


Committees

Board – Personnel (functions are currently a part of executive committee)

This committee is responsible for and ensures the affiliate’s personnel policies and procedures are developed, in place and enforced. They also review job descriptions, establish salary structures, work on annual performance reviews, review benefits packages, and act as a grievance board for employee or volunteer complaints and terminations. These functions are currently assigned to the Executive Committee which is primarily the officers of the board.


Committees

Functional - NominatingThis committee is responsible for recruiting and

selecting a board that is effective and representative of the entire community. They identify and recruit prospective directors and explain board service, present a slate of nominees, and conducts a board orientation of newly elected members.


Operating CommitteesAffiliates work best when a few dozen people who aren't on the board do the majority of the work of the operating committees.

Our board members have been trying to do the work of the board, the work of the board committees, and then staff the operating committees as well. This has caused the board to be stretched too thin and the work of the affiliate has slowed down at times.

Our goal is to have a lot of people, each doing a small part of the work, rather than having just a few people trying to do all the work.


Operating committees

ConstructionFaith RelationsFamily SelectionFamily Support (recently combined with Family Selection)

Marketing & Public RelationsResource DevelopmentReStoreSite SelectionVolunteers


CommitteesOperational – Construction

This committee is responsible for the planning and implementation of the build. People who have a knowledge of surveying, building codes, general construction trades, building supplies, carpentry or other construction are helpful for this committee.


CommitteesOperational – Faith Relations

This committee is responsible to strengthen the support of the affiliate’s work by gaining volunteers, prayers, and financial support from all the community’s churches. The members will seek opportunities to give presentations at church services and church group meetings. Often, churches make a special donation, such as communion offering or the offering on a special “mission Sunday”. This committee should assist with coalitions and their success in funding and building a home.


Committees

Operational – Family Selection (Recently combined with Family support)

This committee is responsible for carrying out the board’s vision that defines the people in need of decent, affordable housing, and by following processes and policies for selecting those in greatest need. The people on this committee will work with families who have made application to be a partner with Habitat. This committee reviews applicants, conducts home visits, presents a family to the board for approval/denial and assists with family orientation.


CommitteesOperational – Family Support (Recently combined with Family support)

This committee is responsible for helping families break the cycle of poverty. The committee seeks to welcome new families into the Habitat family and to provide them with a mutual support system, educational opportunities and a forum for discussions regarding homeownership and relevant Habitat policies and procedures. They also help with the homeowner education portion of the program such as scheduling classes for topics such as budgeting and home maintenance.


CommitteesOperational – Marketing/Public Relations/Communication

This committee is responsible for planning and coordinating all public awareness events and publicity. They are responsible for sharing Habitat’s mission with the people in the geographical service area and volunteers. They may also speak to church groups and local organizations about projects. This committee should prepare a plan for the best use of the affiliates funds in marketing and advertising.


Committees

Operational – Resource DevelopmentThis committee is responsible for developing and

helping to implement the long range strategic plans to insure that the fiscal needs of the affiliate are met. Members identify and approach potential donors (individual, church, corporate) for either cash or “in-kind “ gifts of material, labor, or property. They also develop fundraising material and help with grant writing. This committee also is involved with special events.


Committees

Operational – Site SelectionThis committee is responsible for identifying

potential building sites. This includes working with local government officials, realtors and individuals on acquiring lots and working with construction committee to be sure lots are “buildable” and suitable for a partner family. Those in real estate would be natural members.


CommitteesOperational - Volunteers

This committee helps organize and contact other volunteers to set up time and places to work, whether on the job site, fundraiser or in the office. They will also help coordinate food to be delivered to the work site. This group also keeps track of volunteer hours and implement criteria for volunteer recognition.


Committees

Operational - ReStoreThis committee helps development a solid

implementation plan to open a ReStore, oversee ReStore activities, assist customers on sale days, procure donations from local businesses and individuals, organize and price donated materials.


Best PracticesKeep in mind that depending on the size of the affiliate and the structure of the board (working or governing) will determine how the committees operate and if they too are working or governing committees. As we grow and improve, we refer to the HFHI guide to capacity building as a resource to see what operations are working for other Affiliates. There are lots of resources available for each of the committees on the HFHI site.

habitat for humanity weber/davis counties

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