SOMArts leverages the power of art as a tool for social change through multi-disciplinary events and exhibitions. Equipping artists with the space, mentorship and support they need to shift perspectives and innovate solutions to today’s pressing challenges, SOMArts fosters access to arts and culture for collective liberation and self-determination.
As a partner to the Executive Director and other board members, the board chair will provide support and sustain the work of SOMArts, and provide governance leadership and other strategic support.
Competencies and expectations of the SOMArts board chair include leadership, commitment to SOMArts, commitment to a diverse board, commitment to participate in fundraising, strong communications skills, available time.
At this pivotal moment marked by uncertain City support for the arts and leadership transition, SOMArts is seeking a Board Chair who can serve as a strong fundraising and civic advocate to help secure its long-term sustainability. The ideal candidate brings deep Bay Area experience as well as service on multiple nonprofit boards (particularly in arts and cultural institutions) in positions of leadership providing strategic direction through organizational shifts, revenue growth, and potential relocation. Experience engaging City leadership, and cultivating new foundation relationships is preferred.
Specific Board Chair responsibilities include:
- Leadership: Guides and directs the governance process, centering the work of the board on the organization’s mission, vision and strategic direction; oversees board affairs.
- Executive Director relationship: Serves as the board’s central point of official communication with the Executive Director (ED). Develops a positive, collaborative relationship with the ED, including acting as a sounding board for the ED on emerging issues and alternative courses of action. Stays informed about organizational issues and determines when an issue needs to be brought to the attention of the full board or a committee.
- Meeting management: Presides over board and executive committee meetings in a manner that encourages participation and information sharing while moving the board toward timely closure and prudent decision-making.
- Meeting agendas: Prepares agendas for Board and Executive Committee meetings coordinated with the ED. Calls special meetings and/or executive committee meetings as necessary. Presently, the board is seeking a more proactive and less pro forma meeting style to better utilize our collective expertise to address organizational opportunities and headwinds.
- Committee direction: In consultation with the ED, appoints committee chairs and members. Works with committee chairpersons to align the work of committees with SOMArts’ vision and goals; helps committee chairs identify which recommendations should be presented to the full board.
- Committee attendance. Serves as an ex-officio member of all committees. Attends meetings and coordinates board summaries, actions, and facilitations by committee as appropriate. Current committees include finance, fund development, board development, and capital/facility committees.
- Executive Director performance appraisal: Leads the annual processes of ED goal-setting, performance evaluation and compensation review, consistent with Board policy and alongside the Executive Committee.
- ED Selection and Succession: Establishes a search and selection committee for hiring the ED; plans for ED succession.
- Board recruitment and succession planning: Assists the board development committee in finding and vetting new board members; participates in or conducts new board member onboarding; tracks member term limits, and identifies succession candidates for positions chairperson-elect, secretary-elect, and treasurer-elect.
- Board conduct: Sets a high standard for board conduct by modeling, articulating and upholding rules of ethics and conduct set out in board bylaws and policies. Intervenes when necessary in instances involving conflict-of-interest, confidentiality and other board policies.
- Board learning and development: Leads the development of the board’s knowledge and capabilities by playing a central role in orientation of new board members, mentoring a chair-elect and taking the lead on continuing education for the entire board.
- Fundraising: Ensures that 100% of SOMArts’ board members make an annual contribution to the organization; plays a lead role in organizational fundraising activities and network development.
- Community: Acting as ambassador for SOMArts, speaks to city leadership, departments, and committees, as well as the media and community on behalf of the organization (when necessary); represents SOMArts at civic and community events.
- Finances: Along with the Treasurer, monitors the SOMArts’ overall financial health, including budget, actuals, and cash flow.
- Self-evaluation: Provides for an effective, objective board self- evaluation process and supports implementation of recommendations for improvement. Seeks feedback on his or her performance as chairperson.
