Pathways to LEAD - Organization Profile -META Foundation
Please carefully review the organization profile and the board member roles/responsibilities when considering these board openings. Latinos LEAD will contact you for a preliminary interview if you meet the qualifications. Applications from strong candidates will be forwarded to the nonprofit organization for consideration.
Attend a Ready to LEAD webinar to learn more about nonprofit management and leadership.
Greater Los Angeles area
Programming Area(s) – Higher Education, Scholarships
Desired Expertise – Corporate Executive, Legal, Programs/Projects
Mission Statement
The mission of The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company is to mentor, educate, and enrich youth in under-resourced communities through the creation of collaborative, original theatre.
Organization Description
META has been at the forefront of access to college education for more than 20 years.
META’s Scholars are lifting themselves and their families into higher socio-economic levels. Upon graduation from college, they are professionals in their fields. Some of our more recent graduates are in law school, medical school and working for social justice causes at various nonprofits. They are changing the world!
META supports its scholars for all four years of college with scholarships, mentorship and access to additional educational opportunities, including topics such as business etiquette, personal finance and LinkedIn usage.
Our Executive Director’s work includes preparing the grant checks for the scholars, mentoring the scholars, planning/executing our fundraisers, strategic planning, financial management and more.
91% of our talented scholars are first generation college students. All META Scholars are extraordinarily low income.
META Scholars are all from the greater LA area, but they attend colleges and universities locally and throughout the country, including Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, Yale, NYU, Franklin & Marshall, USC, UCLA and more.
META Scholars are committed to achieving academic success and paying their success forward.
Board Member Position Description
- Serving as a trusted advisor to the ED as s/he develops and implements META’s strategic plan
- Reviewing outcomes and metrics created by META for evaluating its impact, and regularly measuring its performance and effectiveness using those metrics; reviewing agenda and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings
- Approving META’s annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all, legal and fiduciary responsibilities
- Assisting the ED and Board Chair(s) in identifying and recruiting other Board Members
- Partnering with the ED and other board members to ensure that board resolutions are carried out
- Serving on committees or task forces and taking on special assignments
- Representing META to stakeholders; acting as an ambassador for the organization
- Ensuring META’s commitment to a diverse board and staff that reflects the communities META serves
- So that META can credibly solicit contributions from foundations, organizations, corporations and individuals, META expects to have 100 percent of Board Members make an annual contribution that is commensurate with their capacity.
- Individual Board Members are expected to give or get a minimum of $5,000 annually to/for META.
- Each Board member is asked to participate in the active solicitation and fundraising efforts of at least two (2) fundraising events each year to their full capability.
- Extensive professional experience with significant executive leadership accomplishments in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector
- A commitment to and understanding of META’s beneficiaries, 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 META’s beneficiaries
