Board of Directors Eastside Legal Assistance Program (Bellevue, WA)

Board of Directors – Eastside Legal Assistance Program (Bellevue, Washington) (ELAP).

ELAP is a nonprofit dedicated to working with people facing domestic violence, housing, financial, healthcare, immigration, and other issues that need a legal solution. ELAP believes that everyone deserves access to legal help. An experience with domestic violence, an unexpected medical bill, unfair eviction, or other life challenge can set people back financially, physically, and psychologically. Yet people often don’t know how to exercise their legal rights. Legal aid is a tool that can prevent poverty and injustice. Our staff and volunteer lawyers work for free with people facing domestic violence, housing, financial, healthcare, and other problems that need a legal solution.

Role Description

ELAP is seeking applicants to serve on our board of directors. We are a financially stable 501(c)(3) in our 35th year of operation. The ELAP Board works to provide strategic governance for the organization. All Board members serve on a Board committee through which they provide more tactical support of ELAP’s mission, including supporting development efforts, implementing organizational policies, and program development and implementation.

Role Qualifications

We acknowledge that board service is a privilege often limited to individuals who are socially advantaged, based on their gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation, or race. While we value past board experience, we also value a board composition that reflects the clients that ELAP serves and brings specific skill sets or professional expertise to ELAPs work. If you are passionate about our work, interested in investing your time and experience in our organization, and value growth and learning, we encourage all applications, regardless of previous experience.

We are seeking applicants who complement and expand the skills, professional backgrounds, and lived experiences of our existing board members. While finance, public health, marketing, development, and HR expertise are our primary needs currently, we encourage all individuals from traditionally underserved populations to apply.

Service Specifics

Board members commit to the following terms:

• Volunteer for a 3-year term with the possibility of renewal.

• Regularly attend board meetings which happen up to 8 times a year (via Zoom with 2 – 3 in- person meetings each calendar year)

• Serve on and/or chair at least one committee (ex. Governance, Development, Board Recruitment, Attorney Volunteer, Finance).

• Spend an average of 6 to 10 hours a month doing board work: attending regular meetings, participating in committee work, and being an ambassador in the community.

    • Assist with fundraising, including sponsorships, ticket sales to annual Breakfast for Justice Fundraiser, and serving as table Captain at Breakfast for Justice (filling at least one table with guests.

• Make a personally meaningful annual donation. Please note that ELAP Board members do not have a minimum “give get” financial responsibility.

Application Details

To apply, please submit an APPLICATION HERE. ELAP reviews each application carefully and will respond within 10 working days to your submission. Thank you for taking time to submit your application and for considering ELAP Board service.

Board Service Description

When it comes to serving on a non-profit board, especially one that operates as a “working board” there are several key expectations for board members. These expectations ensure the organization’s effectiveness, mission alignment, and overall success.

1. Compliance and Legal Standards: Board members must adhere to all legal requirements and regulations applicable to non-profit organizations. This includes understanding their fiduciary duties, avoiding conflicts of interest, and ensuring transparency in financial matters.

2. Regular Board Meeting Attendance: Consistent and prepared participation at board meetings is crucial. Board members must review the board materials prior to each Board meeting, arrive promptly and attend the entire Board meeting, actively engage in discussions, and contribute to decision-making.

3. Commitment to the Success of the Breakfast for Justice: Board members actively support ELAP’s largest annual fundraiser, the Breakfast for Justice. Each Board member serves as a table captain (filling at least one table with guests), assists with recruiting sponsors, solicits donations to ELAP through a personal fundraising page and related efforts. In addition, Board members actively support fundraising initiatives by making personal contributions, leveraging their networks, and attending fundraising and donor cultivation events.

4. Committee Involvement: Committees handle specific tasks such as finance, governance, Board recruitment, or program development. To enhance the Board’s overall effectiveness, Board members participate actively in the work of their committees. Board members must attend committee meetings consistently, actively engage in discussions, and contribute to decision- making.

5. Leveraging Personal and Professional Networks: Board members use their connections to benefit the organization. Whether it is introducing potential donors, collaborating with other organizations, or securing resources, their networks play a vital role.

6. Conduct: Board members act with honesty and integrity, and always act for the good of the organization and the people it serves. Board members keep confidential information confidential. Board members work with and respect the opinion of staff members and those who serve on the Board and leave personal prejudices out of all board discussions.