Mission

NAMI works to educate, advocate, listen and lead to improve the lives of people with mental illness and their loved ones.

Position

The Board will support the work of NAMI-CO and provide mission-based leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are led by NAMI-CO’S Affiliate Director (AD), the Board-AD relationship is a partnership, and the appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected. This is a working Board, and our expectation is that you will provide ideas as well as the ability to implement such ideas. Specific Board Member responsibilities include:

Leadership, governance and oversight

• Serving as a trusted advisor to the Affiliate Director as s/he develops and implements NAMI-CO’s strategic plan
• Reviewing outcomes and metrics created by NAMI-CO for evaluating its impact, and regularly measuring its performance and effectiveness using those metrics; reviewing agenda and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings
• Approving NAMI-CO’s annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all, legal and fiduciary responsibilities
• Contributing to an annual performance evaluation of the AD
• Assisting the AD and Board President in identifying and recruiting other Board Members
• Partnering with the AD and other board members to ensure that board resolutions are carried out
• Serving on committees or task forces and taking on special assignments
• Representing NAMI-CO to stakeholders; acting as an ambassador for the organization
• Ensuring NAMI-CO commitment to a diverse board and staff that reflects the communities NAMI-CO serves

Fundraising

NAMI-CO Board Members will consider NAMI-CO a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority. So that NAMI-CO can credibly solicit contributions from foundations, organizations, and individuals, NAMI-CO expects to have 100 percent of Board Members make an annual contribution that is commensurate with their capacity.

Board terms/participation

NAMI-CO’s Board Members will serve a two-year term, to be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term. Board meetings will be held monthly and committee meetings will be held in coordination with full board meetings.

Qualifications

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about NAMI-CO’s mission. Selected Board Members will have achieved leadership skills in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. Each individual’s accomplishments will allow them to attract other well-qualified, high-performing Board Members.

Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:

• Experience with leadership accomplishments in business, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector
• A commitment to and understanding of NAMI-CO’s beneficiaries, preferably based on lived experience
• Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, confidentiality, and a passion for improving the lives of NAMI-CO’s beneficiaries
• Policy guidelines for board structure suggests a sixty percent membership with lived experience either as a family member or a person living with a mental health condition

Service on NAMI-CO’s Board of Directors is without remuneration, exceptions can be made prior to time of expenditure.