Brookings Area for Habitat Board and Committee Job Descriptions
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed it’s the only thing that ever has”
Margaret Mead
JOB DESCRIPTIONS
RESPONSIBILITIES: Together with other members of the board, each board member
is legally and morally responsible for all activities of the affiliate.
I.
Human Resources
A. Board membership (includes recruiting new board members,
Recognizing and nurturing existing board members, and providing
existing board members with opportunities to grow and develop as
leaders).
B. President accountability (includes hiring, firing and ongoing
evaluation and assessment of the president).
II.
Planning
A. Setting and reviewing the affiliate’s mission, philosophy, and goals.
B. Planning for the affiliate’s future, on a long and short-range basis.
C. Deciding and planning which services/programs the affiliate provides.
D. Evaluating the affiliate’s programs and operations on a regular basis.
III.
Finance
A. Ensuring financial accountability of the affiliate.
B. Overseeing an ongoing process of budget development, approval and
review.
C. Raising funds and/or ensuring that adequate funds are raised to
support the affiliate’s policies and programs.
D. Managing and maintaining properties or investments the affiliate
possesses.
IV.
Community Relations
A. Ensuring that the affiliate’s programs and services appropriately
address community and family needs.
B. Marketing the affiliate’s services and programs.
C. Ongoing public relations.
D. Cooperative action with other community agencies.
V.
Organizational Operations
A. Ensuring that the affiliate’s administrative systems are adequate and
appropriate.
B. Ensuring that the board’s operations are adequate and appropriate.
C. Ensuring that the organizational and legal structure is adequate and
appropriate.
D. Ensuring that the affiliate and its board members meet all applicable
legal requirements.
BROOKINGS AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, INC.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
President:
The president is the chairman of the corporation and the Board of Directors presides at
all meetings of the Board of Directors. The president, in cooperation with the
Nominating Committee, suggests to the board the chairpersons of all standing
committees. The president and nominating committee aids the committee chairs in
selecting their committee members. The president is a member, ex-officio, of all
committees. In some instances, in order to spread the workload, the president may
delegate this responsibility to others. The president represents the Board of Directors in
legal and other relationships requiring official representation. The president shares
responsibility for the overall administration of the corporation with the Executive Director
and other Directors of the Board, although each carries direct responsibility for the
functions related to their particular position. The president shall serve on the Finance
Committee and Executive Committee.
Vice President:
In the event that the president cannot fulfill his or her term, the vice president completes
the unexpired term of the president. In order to spread the workload of the president,
the vice president may be asked by the president to share responsibilities. The vice
president shall serve on the Finance Committee and Executive Committee.
Treasurer:
The treasurer shall have the authority and responsibility for the safekeeping of the funds
and securities of the corporation. The treasurer shall serve on the Finance Committee
and Executive Committee. The treasurer shall make a finance report to the board
during the board’s monthly meetings.
Secretary:
The secretary will be responsible for the Board of Director’s meeting minutes, as well as
the Executive Committee meeting minutes. When the affiliate has a large volume of
specialized legal documentation to process, a corporate secretary may be appointed to
assist with these legal matters. The secretary shall serve on the Finance Committee
and Executive Committee.
COMMITTEE JOBS DESCRIPTION
The Executive Director is involved in all the committees to run the nonprofit with
the best success.
ABWK (A Brush with Kindness) Committee Job Description:
ABWK Committee will help staff to find homes that need repairs and that can be
presented to the whole committee and Executive Director. Then the proposed job and
the homeowners’ need will be discussed. The committee takes turns voicing concerns
or opinions about the proposed job and once everyone is done, they take a majority
vote. The write up is signed by the Executive Director. The homeowner will be
approved by the committee and taken to the Board of Directors for final approval. The
homeowner is notified by phone. If denied, it is noted in the applicant’s folder and the
folder will be closed. A letter with the reason it was denied is then sent to the applicant.
The home will then be discussed when it will start following a guide sheet and the
planning of how to get the job will get completed. The paperwork will be turned to the
Executive Director and Staff.
Advisory Committee Job Description:
The duties of the members of the advisory board of directors ("advisory board") shall be to
provide leadership, guidance and advice on the business, mission and affairs of the
corporation. Members of the advisory board shall have no voting rights with respect to the
affairs of the corporation. There shall be no fewer than three or no more than twenty seven
on the Advisory Board at one time.
Building Committee:
This committee will consist of people who have an interest in and may have knowledge
of home construction. This include surveyors, architects, people who know building
codes, carpenters, concrete workers, plumbers, electricians, utility people and building
supply people.
The Building Committee works with the Site Selection Committee and Construction
Manager to define the type of construction that best fits the needs of the local
community and Habitat’s goals. The Committee proposes guidelines to the Board for
the type of construction work that the affiliate will do, dealing specifically with the house
design criteria, materials, floor plan, energy-efficiency, and cost estimates.
Faith Relations Committee:
The Faith Relations Committee will seek to strengthen the support of the affiliate’s work
by gaining volunteers, prayer, and financial resources from all community churches. The
Committee will work in a partnership with the churches by extending the opportunity for
members to engage in ministry by becoming involved with BAHFH.
Family Selection Committee:
This Committee is made up of people willing to interview and work with families who
have made application to be a partner family with Habitat. These people will also check
and make certain that the applicant families meet the criteria established by Habitat for
homeownership. The Family Selection Committee works to carry the Board’s vision by
defining the population in need of decent, affordable housing and by developing process
and polices for selecting those in greatest need. Members should have good social and
people skills and be comfortable conducting home visits and working with financial
information.
Family Support Committee:
Members of the Family Support Committee will work to establish tools and procedures
for accomplishing Habitat affiliates commitment to “the development and uplifting of
families and communities, not only the construction of houses”. This committee works
with families to know what is required in the area of sweat equity and to help on the
transitions to true home ownership. Family Support Committee usually enforces the
affiliate’s sweat equity policy, finds/establishes classes and other educational
opportunities for families, and assists the family in making choices concerning the
construction of their home. The committee members provide a one on one volunteer to
guide a selected family through the Habitat building process.
Finance Committee:
This committee is responsible for overseeing the affiliate’s financial and administrative
activities, including the audit and budget functions. It also is responsible for
implementing and reviewing policies that foster good stewardship. The committee must
ensure that there are adequate financial resources available, and that there is no deficit
spending for the programs of the affiliate. This committee develops, oversees and
reviews the affiliate’s budget; coordinates the various elements of the budget; and
makes recommendations to the board of directors for approval of the budget. The
affiliate treasurer often chairs this committee while the executive director is usually an
ex-officio member.
Fundraising Committee:
The Fundraising Committee identifies and approaches potential donors (individual,
church, corporate) for either cash or "in-kind" gifts of material, labor, property, or
support. This committee consists of people who can develop fundraising material and
help with grant writing.
HR Committee:
The human resources committee is responsible for the personnel policies and programs
of the affiliate. It develops and oversees the policies that affect the employees and
volunteers, and must ensure that there is proper review and approval of new staff and
volunteer positions while working with the Executive Director.
Nominating Committee:
The nominating committee is responsible for recruiting and selecting a board that is
effective and representative of the entire community. If an affiliate has a nominating
committee, it is the committee’s responsibility to identify and recruit prospective
directors of the affiliate and present a slate of nominees for election as directors at the
annual meeting. The nominating committee has an extremely important task to be sure
that the board has overall balance and representation. While the functions of the
nominating committee can be done by the executive committee, we recommend a
separate and smaller committee which fulfills this important responsibility. The
nominating committee often takes the lead in educating and orienting new board
members and providing them with necessary board materials.
Public Relations Committee:
The Public Relations Committee is responsible for sharing Habitat's mission with the
people living in the geographic service area, and all volunteers. The goal of the
committee is to continually seek to raise and maintain the community's awareness of
Habitat's work in ways that properly reflect the mission, beliefs and image of Habitat for
Humanity International. . Public relations duties include writing for newsletters,
newspapers, advertising for special events, and public speaking. Sharing the mission
includes educating and informing the public of Habitat principles, policies and
procedures in an accurate and responsible manner. Effective sharing of the Habitat
mission with the entire community will raise public awareness and ultimately activate
more people to be involved in some way, shape or form in the elimination of poverty
housing from the face of the earth. It should also assist in additional leveraging of local
resources to address local challenges.
Resource Development Committee:
The Development Committee assumes the leadership for implementing the public
relations and fund-raising policies and goals of the Board of Directors. The committee
approaches donors, asking for either cash or "in-kind" gifts of material, labor, property,
or support. This committee may research and write grants and may also design and
implement fund-raising events. Sharing the mission includes educating and informing
the public of Habitat principles, policies and procedures in an accurate and responsible
manner.
Restore Committee:
The Restore Committee is to work with the Restore management team to expand
Restore operations in donations and volunteers. To provide research and expertise in
making the Restore a successful entity to help build and restore homes.
Site Selection Committee:
People who are interested in identifying potential sites for Habitat construction, this
includes working with local government officials on acquiring land and lots for building,
water and sewer hookups and working with the construction committee to be sure lots
are "buildable" for a house that is suitable for a partner family. The Site Selection
Committee works to define neighborhoods and communities where the affiliate should
work and finds available land to build on in those areas. Tasks include working with city
offices, neighborhood associations, and property owners. The Site Selection
Committee also works on land development issues.