About Youth Villages
Youth Villages (YV) is a premiere national leader in children’s mental and behavioral health focused on providing the most effective help to children with emotional and behavioral problems, their families and young adults who are aging out of state services. By partnering with innovative state leaders and philanthropists, Youth Villages spurs positive change to child welfare, children’s mental health and juvenile justice systems through public-private partnerships. Youth Villages focuses on achieving long-lasting positive outcomes for the most challenging youth and families.
Youth Villages Massachusetts serves children and young adults across the entire state through in-home and community-based programs provided from our five office locations. Since its founding, the organization has helped more than 11,000 young people and their families work toward successful outcomes. Success is defined as youth living safely and independently within their communities, guided by the belief that no child is a lost cause.
For more information on Youth Villages, please visit their website.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Youth Villages Massachusetts is seeking purpose-driven executives from across the state to join their advisory Board of Directors, with a particular focus on candidates from the Berkshires and Western Massachusetts. The board plays an essential advisory role, supporting critical activities to grow and strengthen the organization and its impact on local communities. Ideal candidates will have backgrounds in fields such as marketing, mental health, lived experience in the foster care system and legislative or policy work.
Their ambitious growth plan is not just a goal, it’s a commitment to transforming lives. As they scale their services; programmatically offering a myriad of solutions including their evidence-based Intercept, which not only delivers strong outcomes but also qualifies for federal matching funds. This makes their services financially attractive to the Commonwealth. Their established trust with the state and proven track record sets them apart as a leading nonprofit not only in the state, but also in the country.
The LifeSet program continues to demonstrate remarkable success in supporting young adults transitioning out of care, addressing critical needs that extend well beyond the reach of traditional child welfare services. Despite heightened funding challenges due to the immigrant crisis and escalating demands on the Executive of Health and Human Services, Youth Villages’ philanthropic network is crucial in ensuring sustained, long-term support for our most vulnerable youth. This network allows us to prioritize and strengthen LifeSet, securing the resources needed to make a lasting impact on their futures.
They have also cultivated a positive workplace culture that has earned “Great Place to Work” accolades year after year. Their dedicated leadership team is passionate about serving those in need, creating a strong, and collaborative environment. With intentionally, they have built a culture of inclusion and belonging. They seek others to continue to reinforce these values as culture carriers. Board members will actively promote and support Youth Villages’ mission as a force for families and advocate for proven solutions within the child welfare, children’s mental health and juvenile justice systems. Board members lead New England specific projects that contribute to local-site, program and national-level success. Board members do so by:
- Being an inspirational champion for Youth Villages.
- Assist in achieving annual fundraising targets and long-term sustainability.
- Building awareness and support for YV by identifying and cultivating influential relationships and partnerships for YV New England including new corporate partners, collegiate relationships, foundation contacts and local philanthropists.
- Providing insight into Massachusetts and New Hampshire human services and government landscape and advising on advocacy strategy to cultivate relationships with key constituents within the state and local communities.
- Engaging with Youth Villages’ programs through annual volunteer opportunities.
- Being an inspirational champion for Youth Villages.
- Recruiting new local Board members.
- Working with the Executive Director to identify opportunities and potential pitfalls associated with New England growth plans and provide advice and support to achieve goals.
- Participating in the New England strategic planning process, monitoring its implementation and evaluating its success.
Expectations:
- Attend four Board meetings annually providing strategic counsel and advice
- Participate in at least one Board committee and attend associated meetings (typically 3 annually)
- Work with YV leadership staff to identify and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders, donors, volunteers and/or advocates
- Make Youth Villages one of your top three philanthropic commitments
- Support, promote and attend Youth Villages’ events whenever possible
- Update public profiles with the Youth Villages board affiliation
- Be available to provide advice and guidance in between meetings when necessary
- Help to build important committees as needed
- Commit to a three-year Board term with the opportunity to serve three consecutive terms
Critical activities are as follows:
- Governance, including establishing by-laws, code of conduct, and Board member terms
- Fundraising through organizational and personal commitments
- Strategic planning oversight
- Serving as a spokesperson and ambassador for Youth Villages and their mission
- Creating and populating Board committees
- Organizational alignment with mission
- Ensuring Youth Village’s commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive Board and staff
- Make Youth Villages one of their top three philanthropic commitments
- Make 3-year financial commitment to support YV operations in New England. Event sponsorships will be solicited separately (in addition to).
- Attend meetings and serve on at least one Board committee
- Attend at least one Youth Villages Employee conference in Memphis during their board tenure
- Actively promote Youth Villages among business friends, neighbors and family and cultivate relationships for their support of the organization
- Suggest 1-2 names annually for Board involvement/recruitment/major gifts
- Support, promote and attend Youth Villages’ events whenever possible
- Provide strategic counsel and advice and is available as needed in between meetings
- Treats all Youth Villages business and information as confidential and proprietary
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
- Passion for the mission
- A lived experience with the foster care system
- Strong functional area of expertise, preferably in marketing, legislative/government expertise, development, and public health issues
- Ability to motivate and influence others
- Strategic thinker
- Empathetic leader
- Exceptional communication skills
- Outstanding listener
- Collaborative style
- Creative and innovative thinker
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB)
- Knowledge of working on a non-profit board
- Community orientation
- Sense of humor and fun to partner with
- Highest integrity
- Engenders trust