Things to consider first:

• By volunteering to serve on the HLC board of trustees, you will have a chance to use your skills to support an organization that focuses on amplifying Indigenous voices, providing internships for Indigenous students and young professionals, and providing opportunities for Tribally-led projects.

• Board members can be located anywhere in the United States as our mission is national in scope. Virtual attendance is possible for all board and committee meetings. We do try to have an in-person annual retreat once a year in Cortez, Colorado if possible (travel costs will be covered).

• Board members can expect to devote approximately 1-2 hours a week on board service, but this fluctuates greatly.

• If you share our passion for this mission, have organization-building skills, and a little time and energy to donate, you can make a huge difference in the lives of Indigenous young people and their communities.

• Everyone, without regard for race, ethnicity, gender, etc. may be a member of our Board of Trustees.

The HLC Board of Trustees as a whole is responsible for: 

• Establishing and regularly reviewing/refining the mission, vision, scope, and strategic goals for HLC.

• Ensuring HLC programs and administration are conducted in alignment with mission, vision, scope, and strategic goals.

• Developing policies to govern the organization including financial, fundraising, personnel, business ethics, volunteer management, and the well-functioning of the board itself.

• Selecting and evaluating the performance of the HLC Executive Leadership.

• Providing fiduciary oversight and oversight of compliance with HLC bylaws.

Individual Board Members are expected to: 

• Attend quarterly virtual meetings.

• Serve as an ambassador for HLC and share fundraising requests with your network.

• To the best of your ability, fulfill your officer role.

• Support the other officers in fulfilling their roles.

• Reviewing agenda and supporting materials thoroughly prior to board meetings.

• Respond to between-meeting communications from officers and staff.

• Review HLC’s governance documents by accessing a shared drive.

• Annually signing the conflict of interest policy.

Board Officer Roles & Responsibilities:

• President

  • Preside at all meetings of the board of trustees.

  • See that all orders and resolutions of the board of trustees are carried into effect.

  • Perform all other duties incident to the office of president of the board and as from time to time may be assigned to the president by the board of trustees.

  • Serve as a mentor and a resource to the HLC Executive Leadership.

• Vice-President

  • Support the president in all their duties.

  • Shall have the same duties and powers, subject to supervision by the president.

• Secretary

  • Schedule board meetings and assist with agendas, take notes, and provide previous notes.

    • A general date range will be discussed during each board meetings, followed by the doodle poll to determine specific dates. Coordinate with board members via a doodle poll to determine dates for the board meetings.

    • Send out previous meeting notes within a week of board meeting and a within two weeks following a board meeting.

    • Coordinate with CEO and Board President on Agenda items for meetings. Send out Agenda at least a day prior to a board meeting.

    • Take notes during board meetings. Propose making audio recordings of board meeting to aid in notes and to maintain an accurate and full record of the meetings.

    • Serve as a timekeeper during board meetings to adhere to schedule and agenda.

  • Keep the minutes of the proceedings of the board of trustees and any committees of the board.

  • See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of HLC’s bylaws or as required by law.

  • Be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the corporation.

  • In general, perform all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the secretary by the president or by the board of trustees.

  • Maintain the digital files for the nonprofit.

    • Obtain non-profit corporate records from CEO and project records and post and maintain current files on shared drive.

  • Serve as HLC’s liaison to the Colorado Plateau Ecosystems Study Unit (CESU), including monitoring emails and attending virtual quarterly meetings.

    • Maintain current contact information with CESU and remain on their listserv.

    • Attend in-person or virtual CESU meetings or coordinate for another member of HLC to attend if unable.

    • Review and send relevant notices from the CESU listserv to HLC board members and research associates.

    • Assist HLC Executive Leadership and board president with CESU renewal application process.

  • Maintain External Relationships/Non-Project Specific Agreements, except donors.

    • Assist HLC Executive Leadership and board president with maintaining external relationships with tribal, government, community, academic, and non-profit partners. This may include through the following:

      • Newsletters

      • Social media Posts

      • Website

      • Event Tables

      • Press Releases

      • Conference Presentations

      • Youtube

      • Podcasts

• Assistant Secretaries

  • Shall have the same duties and powers, subject to supervision by the secretary.

• Treasurer

  • Be the principal financial officer of the corporation and have the care and custody of all its funds, securities, evidences of indebtedness, and other personal property, and deposit the same in accordance with the instructions of the board of trustees.

  • Receive and give receipts and acquittances for moneys paid in on account of the corporation, and pay out of the funds on hand all bills, payrolls, and other just debts of the corporation of whatever nature upon maturity.

  • Unless there is a controller, be the principal accounting officer of the corporation and as such prescribe and maintain the methods and systems of accounting to be followed, keep complete books and records of account, prepare and file all local, state and federal tax returns and related documents, prescribe and maintain an adequate system of internal audit, and prepare and furnish to the president and the board of trustees statements of account showing the financial position of the corporation and the results of its operations.

  • Upon request of the board, make such reports to it as may be required at any time.

  • Perform all other duties incident to the office of treasurer, and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the treasurer by the president or the board of trustees.

• Assistant Treasurers

  • Shall have the same duties and powers, subject to supervision by the treasurer.

• Fundraising Chairs

  • Develop and implement annual fundraising plans.

  • Update and maintain the HLC Case Statement.

  • Update and maintain a contact list of existing donors.

  • Maintain and develop existing donor relationships.

  • Identify and nurture potential individual donors or donor organizations.

  • Develop and implement fundraising efforts.

• Governance Chairs

  • Identify and recruit potential board members to fill upcoming vacancies with needs related to board composition in mind. Nominate candidates to specific board roles.

  • Update the board roles and responsibilities document as appropriate.

  • Provide incoming board members an orientation and adequate information to succeed in their role on the board.

  • Conduct exit interviews with outgoing board members.

  • Review the board’s performance, practices, policies, etc. and propose updates, additions, changes, etc. for the long-term sustainability of the organization and board. Implement the appropriate actions.

  • Amend and/or develop the bylaws and other board policies.

  • Organize board retreats, team building, or trainings.

• Outreach and Public Relations Chairs

  • Post to HLC social media channels, update the website, and send email newsletters.

  • Pursue any additional outreach as appropriate. These could include the following: additional social media platforms, event tables, press releases, conference presentations, youtube, podcast, radio, blogs, etc.

  • Create and update HLC informational documents, except the HLC Case Statement.

  • Build and maintain external relationships, except donors.

  • Serve as HLC’s liaison to the Colorado Plateau Ecosystems Study Unit, including monitoring emails and attending virtual quarterly meetings.

Join us and help us create more hopeful futures for everyone!

We promise we won’t take up too much of your time and you’ll have lost of fun and meet really cool people!