Board member (remote volunteer)

Help us advance digital rights in Europe!

The Digital Freedom Fund works to advance digital rights through strategic litigation in Europe. We do this primarily through grants to support the legal, advocacy, research, and other costs involved in litigation and through facilitating skill development and networking in the digital rights community. As part of its work in facilitating skill development and networking, DFF organises several events, including litigation retreats, workshops and virtual meetings to collaboratively strategise on litigation across different digital rights issues. DFF has an annual operating budget of EUR 2-2.5 million and a light operational staff as its focus is on grantmaking and community support activities rather than participating in litigation work itself.

2024 was a year of transition at DFF. DFF underwent a staff-led transformation to a distributed leadership model more in-line with DFF’s organisational values. Additionally, the hosted entity Weaving Liberation was founded out of the Decolonising the Digital Rights Field project and participates in DFF’s leadership structure in the model. The DFF Board has been highly engaged with the team in the process and is learning to shift practices in the Board to align with distributed leadership and anti-oppressive practices such as consent-based decision making. You can read more about DFF’s distributed leadership model here.

DFF is looking for at least two new Board members for a four-year term with possibility to renew for an additional term. Board membership is voluntary and Board members should expect a time investment of 4-8 hours per month in Board duties. For those Board members that volunteer in their free time DFF offers a modest token compensation in the form of an honorarium of EUR 1,800 per year for participation in the DFF Board.

DFF is incorporated as a Stichting under Dutch law, with staff based primarily in Germany, but also in several other jurisdictions, such as Poland, Portugal and the UK. Board members are based in various countries.

What is the role of a Board member at DFF?

• Collaborate with DFF staff and other Board members to provide strategic direction and oversight around the organisation’s activities and budget, with a focus on governance
• Ensure accountability to DFF’s mission and values and help ground our work in the lived experiences of people and communities harmed by data systems and other technology
• Participate in four annual board meetings (three virtually, one in-person)
• Get involved with a highly collaborative, highly motivated and dynamic staff team
• Contribute to developing DFF’s financial resilience by connecting DFF to new networks and donors

Who are we looking for?

As a social reform organisation in the digital rights community, the Digital Freedom Fund is committed to actively integrating an anti-oppressive lens in its work. We encourage applications from a diverse range of backgrounds who are impacted by digital rights.

DFF values the importance of non-traditional and/or non-formal experiences as much as academic and/or formal work experience.

Current recruitment priorities

If you have *any* of these skill-set, we would really love to hear from you:

• Digital rights: Understanding of key protection gaps for intersectional identities and the ways in which community centred strategic litigation can address gaps and leverage political advocacy at national, regional, and international level. Ideally, Board members would have a non-profit or funder background working on digital rights, and are familiar with strategic litigation as a tool.
• Media and digital communications: Experience in strategic communications and access to relevant media networks to help tell DFF’s story and create awareness around our wins.
• Human resources for NGOs: Experience in in supporting regionally disbursed teams through effective human resources, including by providing care through anti-oppressive and equity framework.
• Participatory grantmaking approaches: Experience with grantmaking that includes the voices of those concerned in decision making.
• Expertise in Dutch governance law, community building, monitoring, evaluation & learning and risk & crisis management are bonus skills.

Essential requirements

• Affinity for oversight, strategic direction and NGO leadership
• Strong understanding of or excitement to learn more about strategic litigation and the digital rights landscape in Europe
• Commitment to - and expertise in- social justice and anti-oppressive values and practices

How to Apply

If you think this Board could be a fit for you, we’d love to talk more! We’re happy to answer questions and provide more information; Please feel free to reach out to one of our Co-Directors: Darrah Hassell at darrah[at]digitalfreedomfund[dot]org or Nikita Kekana, nikita [at]digitalfreedomfund[dot]org.

Once you’re ready to apply, please visit our recruitment portal and submit the following by the deadline of 31 May 2025:

https://digitalfreedomfund.freshteam.com/jobs

Be ready to supply your CV (1-2 pages) and to answer the following questions:

• What does DFF's mission (found on our website) mean to you? How do you identify yourself with DFF’s mission and vision?
• Which of DFF’s priority areas are you best equipped to support DFF with and why?
• How would your skills and experiences (personal and professional) translate into

success in this role?

An initial selection will be made based on skills set and relevant experience, followed by interviews. The interviews for the Board treasurer will take place in the first two weeks of June 2025. The Board will then select a candidate and make a final decision in consultation with DFF Leadership.

We look forward to hearing from you!