Board Service with Phamaly Theatre Company

Are you interested in making a difference in your community? Do you want to help lead Denver’s disability-affirmative theatre company?  Consider joining Phamaly’s Board of Directors!

Below, you will find information about board service with Phamaly, including expectations and the process of applying. We hope this information will help you determine if board service with Phamaly is right for you. Please reach out to Corinne Melon at corinne@phamaly.org with any questions.

Board Application Process

If you decide you would like to apply for a position with our Board of Directors, there is an application process, including an interview.  This process can take four to eight weeks, depending on scheduling.  Below is the general process and timeline:

• Fill out the board application here.
• Email your resume to corinne@phamaly.org
• The Vice Chair and/or the Managing Director will review your application and may schedule a brief phone call to ask/answer any questions, if needed.
• Members of the Board of Directors, including the Vice Chair and/or the Chair, as well as the Managing Director will meet with you in person or virtually.
• The Committee will provide the Board of Directors with a recommendation, depending on the Board’s capacity and needs. The Board may invite you to attend a meeting prior to their vote on your election to the Board; however, this is not necessary.
• You will be notified of the Board’s decision and will be invited to attend an orientation meeting with the Managing Director, Vice Chair and/or Chair.

Please contact Corinne Melon, Managing Director, at corinne@phamaly.org with any questions.

Board Job Description

The Board will support the work of Phamaly and provide mission-based leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are co-led by Phamaly’s Artistic and Managing Directors, the Board-AD/MD relationship is a partnership, and the appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected. Sn.pecific Board Member responsibilities include:

Leadership, governance, and oversight

• Serving as a trusted advisor to the Artistic and Managing Directors as they develop and implement Phamaly’s strategic plan
• Reviewing outcomes and metrics created by Phamaly for evaluating its impact and regularly measuring its performance and effectiveness using those metrics; reviewing the agenda and supporting materials before board and committee meetings.
• Approving Phamaly’s annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all legal and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Contributing to an annual performance evaluation of the Artistic and Managing Directors.
• Assisting the Managing Director and board chair in identifying and recruiting other Board Members.
• Partnering with the Artistic and Managing Directors and other board members to ensure that board resolutions are carried out.
• Serving on committees or task forces and taking on special assignments.
• Representing Phamaly to stakeholders, acting as an ambassador for the organization.
• Ensuring Phamaly’s commitment to a diverse board and staff that reflects the communities Phamaly serves.

Fundraising

Phamaly Board Members will consider Phamaly a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority. So that Phamaly can credibly solicit contributions from foundations, organizations, and individuals, it expects to have 100 percent of board members make an annual contribution commensurate with their capacity.

Phamaly Board Members are expected to support the organization's fundraising by attending events and assisting with event organization and operation, publicizing campaigns and events within their network, and supporting sponsorship campaigns.

Board terms/participation

Phamaly’s Board Members will serve a three-year term to be eligible for re-appointment for additional terms. Board meetings will be held every other month, and committee meetings will be coordinated with full board meetings.

Board members are expected to attend a minimum of 75% of regular board meetings, committee meetings they commit to, and one performance of 75% of Phamaly’s theatrical productions.

Board members should expect to spend about five hours a month outside of meetings and attending productions on reviewing reports, fundraising, networking, volunteering, or training.

Qualifications

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about Phamaly’s mission and who has a track record of board leadership. Selected Board Members will have achieved leadership stature in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. Their accomplishments will allow them to attract other well-qualified, high-performing Board Members.

Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:

• Extensive professional experience with significant leadership accomplishments in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector.
• A commitment to and understanding of the disability community, preferably based on experience.
• Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of the disabled community.
• A passion for the performing arts.

Service on Phamaly’s Board of Directors is without remuneration, except for administrative support and costs in relation to Board Members’ duties.

Executive Committee and Officer Responsibilities

The Executive Committee includes all the officers of Phamaly’s board. Its main purpose is to facilitate decision-making between board meetings or in urgent circumstances. The Executive Committee meets monthly to review Phamaly’s financials, receive updates from Phamaly’s leadership, and pass that information on to the rest of the board. The Executive Committee also serves as a smaller sounding board for the Artistic and Managing Directors, focuses the board's work, sets goals and develops meeting agendas, and coordinates the work of the full board.

Board Officer Responsibilities

Chairperson

• Facilitate board meetings.
• Serve as the contact point for individual board members on board issues.
• Work with the board and Phamaly’s co-leaders to set strategy, goals, and objectives for the board and ensure that they are met.
• Ensure that all board members are involved in committee activities and assign committee chairs.
• Motivate board members to attend meetings and actively participate.
• Raise contributed income and support development efforts.
• Maintain visibility in the community.
• Create purposeful agendas for meetings in collaboration with the Managing Director.
• Engage each board member in deliberation.
• Ensure appropriate voting processes are in line with the organization’s governance model.
• Control dominating or out-of-line behavior during meetings.

Vice Chair

• Serve as the Chair’s second in command, supporting their responsibilities.
• Lead meetings in the chair's absence and take over chairing duties when the board chair is unavailable.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of board matters and key decisions to effectively step in when necessary.
• Assist with succession planning and board development.
• May be assigned specific projects or tasks by the board chair.
• Act as a spokesperson for the nonprofit in certain situations.

Secretary

• • Responsible for official communications with board members. Assist other officers with the distribution of documents when needed.
  • Schedule board meetings.
  • Assist with board meeting packet creation and distribution.
  • Assist in board member orientation.
  • Take attendance at board meetings.
  • Take accurate meeting minutes and get them approved.
  • Maintain board records.
  • Ensure secure storage of official board documents and contracts.
  • Track board member terms.

Treasurer

• • Manage financial oversight- review and enforce the nonprofit’s financial policies and procedures.
  • Manage the financial health of the organization and advise the board on investments and other financial matters.
  • Ensure the Managing Director maintains financial records (including assets and sensitive information) and ensure transactions are properly documented.
  • Assist the Managing Director in preparing the annual budget and audit.
  • Ensure the organization is following all state and IRS financial laws and regulations.
  • Identify and manage risk.