Board Member

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Our Mission:

Wondermore nurtures curiosity, enriches curriculum, and inspires a love of good books by connecting Boston-area students to creators of children’s literature who reflect our diverse and vibrant communities.

Position:

The Board supports Wondermore’s work and provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are led by Wondermore’s Executive Director, the Board-Executive Director relationship is a partnership and the appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected.

Specific Board member responsibilities include:

Leadership, governance, and oversight

• Assist the ED with the development and implementation of Wondermore’s strategic plan
• Review outcomes and metrics created by Wondermore for evaluating its impact and regularly measure its performance and effectiveness using those metrics
• Attend all board meetings and the annual retreat
• Review the agenda and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings
• Serve on at least one standing committee and/or task force and actively participate in committee work. Current committees are Governance, Development and Finance.
• Assist the ED and the board chair in identifying and recruiting new board members
• Partner with the ED and the board chair to ensure that board resolutions are carried out
• Act as ambassador for Wondermore
• Promote Wondermore’s commitment to a diverse board that reflects the communities that Wondermore serves

Board Qualifications & Skillset:

We strive to maintain a well-rounded and capable board that is motivated to support Wondermore’s success and growth. We are pursuing candidates that hold a number of the following skillsets/capabilities:

• Legal experience
• Prior experience managing or working with a non-profit
• Connections with authors, illustrators, publishers, or other literature connections that can be leveraged for Wondermore’s benefit
• Connected to racially and culturally diverse communities
• Experience working with and supporting DEI initiatives
• Experience working with foundations
• Experience managing social media accounts and posts
• Experience working with or connections with public schools
• Experience overcoming the challenges of fundraising for a small nonprofit
• Can and will attract other well-qualified, high-performing Board Members

Fundraising

• Wondermore expects 100% of Board members to make an annual contribution that is commensurate with their capacity
• Wondermore Board members consider Wondermorea philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority
• Wondermore board members are expected to actively participate in the Annual Appeal (in the November-December timeframe). Participation includes providing a list of potential donor contacts, distributing Annual Appeal materials to those contacts, and otherwise helping and advising with the Appeal campaign.
• In the event Wondermore plans fundraising events, board members are expected to assist in planning and organizing, and to attend one Wondermore fundraising event every year.

Board Terms and Attendance

Wondermore’sBoard Members will serve a three-year term to be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term. Board meetings are held monthly during the school year. Currently, the board meets in person 4 times a year at our Dedham Office and 6 times per year online virtually. (Meetings are not held in July and August.) There may also be an annual retreat or an orientation for new members. Committee meetings are held at the discretion of the committee chairs and are typically convened virtually.