Join our Board of Directors!

WHO we’re looking for:  We’re always open to new folks joining our Board of Directors. There is no specific skillset or experience that is required. We mainly look for individuals who are enthusiastic, organized, & willing to collaborate w/ others to creatively problem solve.

WHAT is required:  Contributing approx. 10-12 hrs/month of work focused on keeping the wheels of the organization rolling. You’ll take on anything from managing finances to designing event posters, depending on your interests & skillsets.

WHERE you’ll need to be:  This is flexible. Much of the work can be done remotely, however, we encourage board members to meet in-person if they please, and to stop by the shop or attend one of our community events (which you may help coordinate). Ideally, you live within the Portland area, but if not we may be able to make it work.

WHEN we need you:  As of 2022 several new board members have recently joined. Nonetheless we’re always open to new members.

WHY join us: You’ll get to collaborate w/ a fun team of folks who share a passion for sustainability & community resilience. Joining the B4H board is also a great way to gain experience in:

  • non-profit management

  • sustainability / clean transportation

  • reuse, repair, waste reduction

  • social services

  • small business operations

  • event coordination

  • much more! Diverse goals & challenges tend to present themselves here.

HOW to move forward: If you’re interested or just curious to learn more, please fill out our brief interest form below or email info@b4hpdx.org. We’ll get back to you ASAP!

 

FORMAL JOB DESCRIPTION:

Bikes for Humanity’s Mission:
Bikes for Humanity PDX (B4H) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public access to affordable and safe bicycles while empowering self-sufficiency in bicycle maintenance and commute throughout the Portland metropolitan region.

Purpose of the Board of Directors:
The Board’s purpose is to serve the needs of the shop and programs, which serves the community through its own operations as well as external programs. The Board/staff partnership is invaluable for the success of the organization in meeting community needs.

Time commitment:

  • Approx. 10hrs per month — working on community outreach, program support, and fundraising efforts. 

  • Plus 4 quarterly board meetings per year. These meetings typically last 2-3 hrs.

Specific Expectations of the Board as a Whole:

  • Commit to identifying and breaking down barriers that exist in accessing our programs and activities, due to racial, economic, gender, and ability biases impacting the communities we serve.

  • Establish and maintain B4H within all legal, governmental, and financial guidelines. As per government policies, board members are financially and legally liable for the organization. 

  • Identify individual talents and skills needed to maintain an effective board and bring on new board members with needed talents and skills as board openings appear.

  • Set a Board-wide annual fundraising goal for B4H.

  • Annually and quarterly, review and set strategic goals for fundraising, programming, and board needs with the broader community in mind.

  • Partner with staff and key volunteers. Policy and programs are implemented by staff and key volunteers. If a policy or decision does not work for the shop or programs, the board will reevaluate.

Specific Expectations of Individual Board Members:

  • Support recruitment of the board when there are board openings.

  • Attend quarterly board meetings. Establish weekly goals during board meetings and respond to Board President check-ins regarding your goals throughout the month.

  • Support fundraising for the organization by directly fundraising from donors, organizing fundraising events, applying for community grants, and other creative ideas.

  • Patience is valuable in our hyper-local, small non-profit. Community comes from slowing down the pace.

  • You must be available via email and phone. We have an active email group and you will be expected to participate.

  • When in the shop, we are shop volunteers; we do not have authority in that space greater than other volunteers present. Day-to-day operations are led by B4H’s staff and key volunteers.

  • Participate in decision making by voting on issues and sharing your experience and perspective. Decisions will be made by majority vote.

  • Agree to uphold the board norms of consideration:

    • Respect people’s perspectives by offering honest expression of opinions and inclusion of all views before taking action.

    • Respect people’s time by presenting well-researched ideas and avoiding off topic brainstorming.

    • Respect people’s work through thoughtful collaboration and constructive feedback.

Length of Term:
Ideally 2-3 years total, including a trial period, which may be renewed pending approval.