Job Description
for the
LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc.
Board of Directors
This Job Description was adapted from the Board Excellence Handbook of Maryland Nonprofits.
The LEAD Maryland Foundation Board adopted this job description on May 16, 2012.
The Board of Directors, acting as a single entity, is legally and ethically responsible for all
activities of the organization. Individual board members have an obligation to uphold the
standards of conduct set for them by the board and applicable laws.
The Board is responsible for:
1. Establishing the mission of the organization. LEAD Maryland Foundation’s
mission:
“LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying
and developing leadership for agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities.”
2. Determining how the organization carries out its mission through long-range and
short-range planning and review;
3. Hiring, supervising, evaluating and supporting the Executive Director; Note in
LEAD Maryland’s situation of having had a long-term relationship with Extension,
board members served and led, (and in the future may seek to serve and lead),
the candidate interviewing and selection committee or hiring committee within
Extension; Extension and the Board must work cooperatively and communicate
regarding the supervision, evaluation, and support of the Executive Director;
4. Establishing policies that ensure best practices are followed;
5. Ensuring legal compliance;
6. Acquiring and maintaining resources
o Adopting an annual budget
o Providing ongoing fiscal oversight
 Engage Auditor or initiate an
independent financial review
 Review Form 990 prior to its
submission
o Making certain the organization has the financial resources necessary to
carry out its mission
7. Maintaining the Board
o Recruiting new members
o Orienting and training Board members
o Develop Board leadership to maintain continuity and institutional knowledge
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8. Providing oversight to ensure the organization is making progress in achieving its
mission
Responsibilities of Directors include:
Understand and promote organization's mission
Gain a working knowledge of the organization's programs, services and delivery
models
Be a working member of at least one Board committee, work group or project
annually;
Assisting in recruitment: recruitment of new board and committee members,
recruitment of applicants to LEAD fellowships, recruitment of resources that will
help in teaching/leading seminars, recruitment of volunteers, recruitment of
program sponsors and others important to LEAD’s work;
Advocate for the organization
Help to educate the community
Identifying and/or avoid conflicts of interest
Offer if not asked to participate in activities you can help with
Ask questions—during meetings as well as outside of meetings
Be respectful of differing opinions
Be open minded to diverse ideas
Actively participate in board meetings, annual Board planning retreat/exercises,
annual meeting, and organizational events (symposium, graduations, alumni
events, seminars, fundraisers, and so forth; LEAD may also need help staffing
display booth/exhibits at trade shows and other community and industry events
and fairs);
Participate in annual board self
assessment
Review Board meeting materials
before the meeting
Appropriately save and file provided
documents and other information that
may be useful while serving as a
board member, and use tools such as
the electronic (paperless) board
handbook;
Call on the LEAD office for assistance
and information
Time Demands (approximate)
Board members are normally elected for a 2-year term. There are no term limits;
Attend and actively participate in an anticipated four quarterly Board meetings
annually;
o Typically 4 board meetings, held the 2nd or 3rd Wednesdays of February,
May, September, November; Typically board meetings begin at 9:30 a.m.,
provide a lunch, and often tours and other opportunities, including meeting
with class Fellows; The board sets their own meeting calendar annually;
Committee/Project/work group - 1-2 hours per month or as needed
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Should the board wish to hold a planning retreat - 1 day;
Annual meeting – typically held the same day as the February quarterly meeting;
Attendance at events (time varies) - Attend one or two events per year such as
LEAD seminars, alumni events, fundraising events, class symposium, graduation,
new class welcome;
Participate in a 1/2 day orientation for new
Board members, or orientations at times most
convenient to the board members as arranged
with board leadership and the executive
director;
Board meeting materials will be sent out at
least one week prior to the meeting for review;
Other board meeting notices and reminders
will be sent in advance, and in accordance
with the bylaws;
Financial and Resource Development Expectations
Make an annual financial pledge to the organization, commensurate with one’s
ability. This can be fulfilled at one time or over the course of the year.
o The LEAD Board has a policy to reach a goal of having 100% of board
members personally giving to the foundation annually;
o There are no set donation minimums; Donations of $50 to $250, or
sometimes more, is “typical” but not required. (A former board member
donated stock!) The Board may establish a goal in the budget, (such as
$1500 to represent an average of $100 each within the fiscal year for a
board of 15 members);
o Though the LEAD Board recognizes and appreciates board members who
also represent organizations contributing significant funding to the LEAD
Maryland Foundation, the 100% giving goal is intended for the individual
member making a personal gift.
Participating in resource development and
fundraising
o Recruit sponsors when possible,
 for example, $100 $1000, would especially
be helpful for seminar
expenses (group meal
sponsor, bus sponsor,
instruction sponsor, and so
forth);
o Identify and assist in cultivation of potential donors;
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o Assist lobbying/advocacy efforts in Annapolis, appropriate for the good of
the foundation;
o Identify resources, people, leaders, who can teach, instruct, and train
Fellows to strengthen LEAD’s educational outcomes; LEAD especially
needs experts in topics of communications training (public speaking,
working with the media, and other topics the curriculum committee will
help identify);
Resources available to Board members:
Board members help each other and may also call on the
Executive Director; the LEAD Fellows—current class and
Alumni Fellows; former board members; and program
sponsors. All are available as resources to support the
Board Members.
The LEAD Maryland Foundation also operates under the
Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and the IRS 501(c)(3)
nonprofit determination letter. These documents also
serve as guiding resources.
IAPAL (International Association of Programs for Agricultural Leaders) and other leadership
programs on community and state levels also serve as valuable resources.
LEAD benefits as a member of Maryland Nonprofits. LEAD Board members may attend
training and other programs provided through Maryland Nonprofits. Ask for member rates.
Please call on the LEAD office for assistance.
LEAD’s guiding documents (strategic plans, program evaluations, written policies, curriculum
guide, budgets, grant agreements, MOU’s, IRS 990 reports, financial reports, directors and
officers insurance policy) are to serve as resources.
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