Board of Trustees

Thinking about joining the Brown County Community Foundation Board of Trustees?

What You Need to Know
Serving as a Board member is one of the most challenging and rewarding of volunteer assignments, and we are pleased that you are considering the Brown County Community Foundation for your service. While appointment to the Board is an honor, Board members have important responsibilities that require a commitment of time, skill and resources.

Background
The Brown County Community Foundation was established in 1993 with the vision, hard work and dedication of several local citizens. Lilly Endowment Inc. called upon Indiana communities to form local community foundations, offering challenge grants to encourage their growth. The Brown County group decided to accept the challenge of raising $1 million by year-end 1996 with a promise of $500,000 matching funds from Lilly. They established bylaws and a partnership with the Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County.

In 1996, the Community Foundation made its first grants to local nonprofit organizations and scholarships to local students. In August, the Foundation became independent of the Heritage Fund and officially incorporated as the Brown County Community Foundation.

Responsibilities of a Board Trustee
The Brown County Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees is composed of twelve Trustees, whose responsibilities include:

• Staying informed about the Foundation’s mission, services and policies.
• Attending monthly Board meetings, working committee meetings and functions such as special events.
• Reviewing agenda and supporting materials prior to Board and committee meetings.
• Serving on assigned committees (no more than two) and offering to take on special assignments.
• Making a financial contribution of any amount to the Foundation as a demonstration of commitment to the organization’s mission.
• Informing others about the Foundation, including taking part in soliciting donors.
• Suggesting possible nominees to the Board who can make significant contributions to the work of the Board and the Foundation
• Staying current on developments in the Foundation field.
• Following conflict-of-interest policies (members are required to sign a conflict-of-interest agreement). Board members and their families may not benefit financially from the Board member’s relationship to the Foundation through grants, scholarships or contracts.
• Following confidentiality policies.
• Being informed about or willing to learn about the community’s nonprofit organizations to assist with the Foundation’s annual discretionary grant cycle.
• Being willing to meet with and coordinate projects with staff by phone and e-mail as needed and to keep staff apprised of the activities of the Board.
• Staying in touch with the Brown County community to learn about concerns and needs related to the Foundation.

Assessment of Interest in Serving
With an understanding of the Board responsibilities described, it is time to evaluate your own interest in serving on the Brown County Community Foundation Board. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I committed to the mission of the Foundation?
• Can I contribute the time necessary to be an effective Board member?
• Am I comfortable with the Foundation’s tone and approach to seeking donors and making grants?
• Can I contribute financial support as a demonstration of commitment to the Foundation’s mission in an amount consistent with my own means?
• Am I willing to solicit donations myself, with adequate guidance and training?
• Can I place the Foundation’s purposes and interests above my own professional and personal interests when making decisions as a Board member?

Members of the Foundation Board are available to answer any questions you might have at 812-988-4882. You are welcome as a guest to board or committee meetings to get a sense of the Foundation’s management style. We would also be happy to supply you with documents – such as our annual report, a Board member job description, our bylaws, etc. – to help in your decision-making process.