To round out your foundation’s toolkit, I’ve put together a Board Member Orientation Guide. This is the final “onboarding” piece that the Chairperson can hand to new Advisory Board members so they understand their role, their commitment, and the legacy they are representing.
🥊 Advisory Board Orientation Guide
Welcome to the Corner.
You have been selected to join the Jackie Kallen Foundation Advisory Board because of your expertise, your integrity, and your commitment to helping others “beat the odds.”
1. Your Mission
Your role is to ensure that every dollar the Foundation gives out is an investment in a “Champion.” You are the filter that ensures we only support programs that are as resilient and focused as Jackie herself.
2. Your Primary Responsibilities
- The Review Window (January – February): Dedicate approximately 5–10 hours during this period to review assigned grant applications.
- The Scoring Mandate: Use the Weighted Scorecard to provide objective, data-driven feedback.
- The Consensus Call: Participate in the annual “Selection Meeting” in March to finalize the recommendations for the Board of Directors.
- Advocacy: Act as an ambassador for the Foundation, helping to identify potential “Grantees” in your professional network.
3. Key Dates to Remember
- Dec 31: Applications Close (Chairperson organizes files).
- Jan 15: Review Period Begins (Scorecards distributed).
- Feb 15: Scores Due to the Chairperson.
- March 15: Final Advisory Board Meeting to approve the “Top-Tier” list.
- April: Public Announcement of winners.
4. Advisory Board Ethics
- Recusal: If you have a personal or professional connection to an applicant, you must notify the Chairperson and recuse yourself from scoring that specific file.
- Confidentiality: All applicant data, financial records, and Board deliberations are strictly confidential.
- The “Jackie Standard”: Ask yourself: Does this applicant have the grit to finish the fight? If the answer is no, the score should reflect that.
Chairperson’s Final Implementation Tip:
To make this process feel official, I recommend holding a “Kickoff Call” on January 2nd each year. This is where you (the Chairperson) walk the Advisory Board through the total number of applications received and set the energy for the review season.