Board of Trustees Opening

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Board of Trustees Call for New Members Fall 22

Seeking exceptional individuals to be part of our volunteer Strategic Leadership Team

Destination Imagination, Inc. (DI), is a U.S.-based global educational nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to inspire and equip youth to imagine and innovate through the creative process. Students who participate in DI educational experiences gain knowledge and skills in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), creative and critical thinking, project management, collaboration and communication-skills the National Association of Colleges and Employers has highlighted as important for success.

DI has produced a number of successful global programs over the last 20+ years. In its signature Team Challenge experience program, DI presents an annual international competition cycle involving seven long-term project-based challenge types-Technical, Scientific, Engineering, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Service Learning, and Early Learning. Open-ended Team Challenges are developed annually to cover a wide range of student interests and align to current educational standards. Participants choose a challenge and then take full responsibility for all aspects of the solution they create. Teams are also tested on their ability to respond creatively and rapidly to a surprise short-term challenge. Teams are presented with this challenge live and in-person on the day of their local tournament; qualifying teams go on to higher-level tournaments, culminating in DI’s annual Global Finals event. Participation is open to students from Kindergarten through university level. DI’s learner-focused methodology empowers students to take the lead and provides a framework within which they can take risks and learn from failure. DI participants become lifelong problem-solvers who are inspired to innovate creative solutions to real-world challenges.

Other current key DI programs include:

• Digital Open - a shorter-term team-based challenge program specifically for teams that cannot meet in person but want to participate in a DI educational experience
• Envision - An event-based program experience that focuses on bringing together teams to solve an intensive challenge over the course of a three-day period
• The imagineXperience - a team-based challenge program specifically for students from underserved communities

DI’s business is conducted through a central headquarters staff and through 38 U.S. and 27 international affiliate organizations (many of which have subordinate regional organizations). A global network of thousands of dedicated volunteers helps to bring DI’s mission to life by developing DI challenges, managing DI teams, conducting DI tournaments, and expanding the DI community.

Business Category:

Educational International Nonprofit Organization Management

Board of Trustees Responsibilities:

Members of the DI Board of Trustees are expected to contribute to the vitality of the organization in a number of ways. Board members act as advisors, policymakers, fundraisers, and spokespeople by bringing their diverse skills and talents to a creative, entrepreneurial environment. Board members also assume responsibility for the overall success and health of the organization. Members come from the business, legal, artistic, educational and philanthropic communities and live all over the world.

While staff manages the day-to-day operations and programming, the board ensures the organization is meeting its mission. In addition to governance and oversight, board members are important advocates of the institution among key stakeholders. In particular, board members help ensure that DI has the support of elected officials, help increase its visibility among community members and the media, and help connect staff with possible partners, sponsors, foundations, governments, and philanthropists.

The Board of Trustees provides governance and strategic guidance to DI, working in close cooperation with its Executive Director. The Board’s specific responsibilities include:

• Ensuring that the organization fulfills its mission and purpose.
• Selecting and evaluating the performance of the Chief Executive Officer.
• Strategic and organizational planning and evaluation of DII’s mission.
• Ensuring strong fiduciary oversight and financial management.
• Fundraising and resource development.
• Oversight of the organization’s programs and services.
• Enhancing the organization’s public image.
• Assessing and improving its own performance as the governing body of the organization.
• Recruiting new board members, ensuring balance in skill and diversity.

Expectations of Board Members:

Members of the Board of Trustees are expected to:

• Contribute meaningfully to meetings and activities of the board and its committees.
• Use personal and professional knowledge and networks to help advance DI’s mission.
• Make an annual financial contribution to DI that is significant to the board member.
• Serve a term of four years with a possible second four-year term.
• Attend in-person board meetings twice a year (typically on Saturday). (DI anticipates only one such meeting in FY 2022-23)
• Attend four bi-monthly evening teleconference board meetings in the remaining months.
• Serve on a standing committee (Audit, Development, Finance, Governance, or Management); committees typically meet monthly by teleconference.
• Contribute meaningfully to the enhancement of the organization outside of scheduled meetings.
• Board members are encouraged to attend Global Finals-DI’s international culminating event celebrating teams’ creativity (late May).

Travel, meals, and lodging expenses for in-person board meetings are reimbursed, although donations by Board members to defray these expenses are encouraged.

Desired Skills and Expertise:

DI has recently adopted a Strategic Plan focused on financial and structural sustainability. The Plan calls for the following initiatives over the next 3-5 years:

• Expand programming access to more countries
• Expand programming access to more underserved communities in the U.S. and abroad
• Expand support to local/regional organizations that bring DI to local communities
• Increase program offerings that mix digital and in-real-life educational experiences
• Upgrade DI’s internal systems to be on the cutting edge of program delivery

To further these initiatives, the Board is seeking trustee candidates who fit at least one of the following:

1. Have the network capability, background, skill set, and interest to help DI’s development team generate new philanthropic, corporate, government, grant, or foundation financial support for DI at the $100,000+ level.
2. Have expertise and contacts to help DI identify and access state and federal public policy initiatives.
3. Have a background of leadership in education (particularly STEAM education).
4. Have skills and experience in the auditing and accounting process.

The Board is currently recruiting candidates to fill multiple vacancies. Experience with the DI program is desirable but not required. Recent DI alumni are encouraged to apply.

Next Steps for Interested Candidates:

1. Interested candidates must attend one of three one-hour information sessions. These sessions will cover basic information about DI and review the role of the DI Board and expectations for new board members. This is also an opportunity for potential candidates to ask specific questions about the organization and the role of the Board. The informational sessions will be held at the following times:
   1. October 5 th at 8pm Eastern Time
   2. October 11 th at 2pm Eastern Time
   3. October 15 th at 10am Eastern Time

Email advancement@DIHQ.org to request a Zoom link for one of these sessions. Be sure to include your full name, a link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one, and which session you plan on attending. You will be sent a link to attend your requested info session. If for any reason you cannot make a session, let us know and we’ll arrange an alternative.

1. After your information session, you will be invited to an optional telephone or video conference meeting with at least one DI leader (Board Chair, Chief Executive Officer, or other leader) to discuss your interest in joining the Board of Trustees in greater detail.
2. After this meeting, you will be invited to formally apply to join the Board of Trustees. Interested persons must submit a resume or biography, two references, and a cover letter outlining reasons and goals for proposed service on the DI Board; the candidate’s special skills, talents, and resources; and any other information you would like us to consider. Applications must be submitted to BOTapplications@dihq.org by October 31, 2022 at 11:59pm ET. Formal interviews will take place by teleconference in November, with selection in January and commencement of term on February 1. Official selection will be contingent on satisfactory completion of a background check.