Street Medicine Institute Board Member Job Description

Street Medicine Institute Overview:

The Street Medicine Institute (SMI) facilitates and enhances the direct provision of health care to the unsheltered homeless where they live. SMI does this by providing communities and clinicians with expert training, guidance, and support to develop and grow their own Street Medicine programs. SMI has become the global leader in developing the field and practice of Street Medicine and has helped cultivate or improve Street Medicine programs in over 85 cities located in 15 countries across 5 continents. SMI is also a membership community that enables professionals and other individuals interested in the Street Medicine movement to come together to provide peer support, share best practices, seek advice and learn about key concepts necessary for a successful Street Medicine program.

Overview of Board of Director Membership:

Each member of the Board of Directors of SMI is responsible for driving the organization towards achieving its mission, vision, and purpose and abiding by its By-Laws.  

The primary role of the member of the Board of Directors is to effectively govern the organization through careful review of programmatic elements, financial statements and strategic initiatives. Each member of the Board of Directors will participate in at least one committee. Board members will attentively attend regular board meetings, committee meetings, annual leadership retreats, annual symposia, and other meetings/events as planned and agreed-to by the members of the Board of Directors.

Secondly, each member of the Board of Directors will assume limited operational responsibilities related to their area of expertise and/or business need. These responsibilities will require additional time and effort to complete, and each member of the Board of Directors will be held accountable to report and successfully achieve their operational duties. Examples include:  managing payments to vendors, updating social media accounts, keeping accounting records, tracking CME activity during the symposium, etc.  

Finally, members of the Board of Directors may sign-up for stretch goals/assignments, usually determined by the Board of Directors at the annual leadership retreat, to help the organization achieve long-term goals. These assignments are treated as “stretch” and as such, are not subject to regular review and scrutiny by the board. However, each board member should put forth every effort to make regular progress and eventually complete assignments on-schedule.  

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Understand and ensure that SMI reaches its mission and vision. 
  • Understand the values of SMI and use them in decision making. 
  • Attend all regular and special board meetings and actively participate in proceedings. 
  • Serve on at least one committee. Attend all regular committee meetings and actively participate in the proceedings. 
  • Assume operational responsibilities tied to their area of expertise and/or business need.
  • Complete assignments on-time and notify Board of Director leadership in advance of missed deadlines.  
  • Is accessible, at least by phone or email, to staff and other board members as needed. 
  • Participate in board member recruitment and orientation. 
  • Support SMI by making a meaningful financial gift to the organization through SMI membership, or at least $500 each calendar year. 
  • Solicit the financial, in-kind, and political support of others, including employers and friends, and obtain new donations to SMI, in addition to my personal contribution. 
  • Attend as many organization events and fundraisers as possible. 
  • Maintain and promote high ethical standards, including good-faith board decision making and avoid an actual or perceived conflict of interest with other activities, interests, and/or organizations with which I may be involved. 
  • Maintain the confidentiality of the private information of the organization, staff, clients, and other board members. 
  • Be fiscally responsible for the organization by being familiar with and approving SMI’s budget. 
  • Communicate effectively and respect the diverse opinions of others. 
  • Agree that in the event, for whatever reason, I can no longer fulfill my duties and responsibilities as an SMI board member, I will immediately notify the board chair and arrange to transfer any outstanding responsibilities to other members of the board. (Ideally remain through one term)
  • In collaboration with the full board, oversees the Executive Director’s performance, including the establishment of performance goals along with evaluation of said performance. 
  • Supports a culture of inclusion and equity.

Required Qualifications:

  • 3-5 years of previous board of director service in a similar organization, or 10+ years in non-profit management, care delivery, or leadership role in similar organization.  Lived-experience of persons experiencing homelessness may be considered as substitute.
  • Willing and able to attend board meetings, currently alternating monthly at 12PM EDT and 7PM EDT
  • Willing and able to participate in at least one-committee
  • Willing and able to assume operational responsibilities tied to area of expertise and/or business need
  • Willing and able to devote 5-10 hours per month on average to SMI-related activities.  Note that some months such as during the annual symposium may require a higher number of hours required
  • Willing and able to support SMI through membership or $500 annual gift

Preferred Qualifications:

  • 5-10 years of previous board of director service in a similar organization, or 15+ years in non-profit management, care delivery, or leadership role in similar organization.  Lived-experience of persons experiencing homelessness may be considered as substitute.
  • Willing and able to lead a core operational activity or chair a committee
  • Willing and able to solicit donations to SMI in the form of financial gifts or in-kind donations
     
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