Sarah's Friends

Board of Directors Application

Thank you for your interest in serving Sarah's Friends

Thank you for considering service on the Board of Directors of Sarah's Friends. Our Board plays an important role in protecting the mission, strengthening the organization, and helping ensure that survivors of domestic violence and other crimes have access to meaningful support and resources.

Sarah's Friends exists to empower survivors of domestic violence and other crimes to heal emotionally, physically, and spiritually. The Board of Directors provides governance, fiduciary oversight, strategic leadership, and community representation while supporting the Executive Director in leading the organization.

Board service is a meaningful commitment. Board members serve without compensation and are expected to actively participate in Board meetings and development activities, serve on at least one committee, support fundraising and resource development, participate in required education and training, maintain confidentiality, disclose conflicts of interest, and represent Sarah's Friends positively within the community.

Please complete the following application as thoughtfully and thoroughly as possible. Your responses will help the Governance Committee and Board understand your interests, experience, skills, and potential contribution to Sarah's Friends.

Sarah's Friends' Board of Directors is responsible for organizational governance, strategic direction, fiduciary oversight, policy, compliance, and oversight of the Executive Director. Day-to-day operations and staff management are delegated to the Executive Director.

Sarah's Friends seeks Board members who bring a range of skills, perspectives, professional expertise, community relationships, and experiences.

Board members are expected to attend and actively participate in regular Board meetings, review materials in advance, participate in Board development and training, and contribute to Board-approved initiatives.

Board members play an active role in supporting the financial sustainability and visibility of Sarah's Friends. This may include participating in fundraising activities, donor engagement, special events, community outreach, and leveraging personal and professional networks to advance the organization.

Sarah's Friends does not define a required dollar amount for an individual Board member's personally meaningful contribution.

Sarah's Friends operates in the field of victim services, where secondary trauma and emotional fatigue can affect survivors, staff, volunteers, and organizational leadership. The Board is committed to trauma-informed governance and to fostering an organizational culture grounded in empathy, stability, accountability, and respect.

Board members are entrusted with sensitive organizational information and are expected to maintain confidentiality, act with honesty and integrity, disclose potential conflicts of interest, and make decisions in the best interests of Sarah's Friends, its clients, and the community.

Board members are expected to participate in orientation and continuation education, annual Board self-assessment, and ongoing development of the Board and its leadership.

Are you willing to:

Applicant Acknowledgment

I understand that service on the Sarah's Friends Board of Directors is a position of leadership and fiduciary responsibility. I understand that Board members serve without compensation and are expected to actively participate in Board meetings, committees, organizational development, fundraising and resource development, continuing education, and other Board-approved activities.

I understand that the Board governs collectively and that da-to-day management of Sarah's Friends is delegated to the Executive Director.

I understand that Board members are expected to maintain confidentiality, disclose potential conflicts of interest, uphold the organiztion's ethical standards, support a trauma-informed organizational culture, and represent Sarah's Friends positvely within the community.

I understand that submission of this application does not guarantee appointment to the Board of Directors and that final selection and appointment are subject to the organization's governing requirements.

By signing below, I affirm that the information provided in this application is true and complete to the best of my knowledge and that I am willing to fulfill the responsibilities and expectations associated with Board service.