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JOIN OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Grow Ahead envisions a world where small-scale farmers and their communities thrive with climate resilience, economic prosperity, and abundant, nutritious food—all while cooling the planet and nourishing the world.

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HERE’S HOW WE DO IT:

We team up with local partners, primarily fair trade and organic farmer cooperatives and NGOs, to develop joint-fundraising campaigns to support climate resilience projects in four key areas:

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ABOUT GROW AHEAD

Mission

Connect individuals and organizations directly to small-scale family farmer organizations in the global south through crowdfunding in order to support small-scale farmers address the challenge of climate change in their communities.

Vision

A world where small-scale farmers and their communities are climate resilient, economically prosperous, healthy, and have access to abundant, nutritious food— while cooling the planet and nourishing the world.

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OUR TEAM

We’re a small remote team spread across the United States. �We are looking to recruit board members internationally.

Ryan Zinn

Director and President of the Board

Alexandra Groome

Program Manager

Dana Geffner

Treasurer of the Board

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SUPPORTERS & BUSINESS PARTNERS

LOCAL PARTNERS

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WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DIG INTO WITH US

  • Strategic planning: We’re planning on embarking on a strategic planning process with new board members
  • Program development:
    • Evaluating whether we have the right programs in place or whether we should focus our energy on fewer programs
    • Determining whether we should focus our energy on funding projects for crops like cocoa and coffee that are familiar to consumers, vs. expanding into other regenerative ag practices like holistic planned grazing
  • Campaign funding model: Solidifying our funding model for campaigns
  • Project selection criteria: Honing in on robust criteria for choosing which projects to fund
  • Digital marketing: Mastering crowdfunding, branding, and messaging

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TYPICAL BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure effective planning. Boards must actively participate in an overall strategic planning process and assist in implementing and monitoring the plan's goals.

Ensure adequate and effective use of financial resources. One of the board's foremost responsibilities is to secure adequate on-going financial resources for the organization to fulfill its mission as well as to ensure effective management of financial resources.

Protect assets and provide proper financial oversight. The board must assist in developing the annual budget and ensuring that proper financial controls are in place.

Ensure legal and ethical integrity. The board is ultimately responsible for adherence to legal standards and ethical norms.

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TYPICAL BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES (CONT’D)

Enhance the organization's public standing. The board should clearly articulate the organization's mission, accomplishments, and goals to the public and garner support from the community.

Build a competent board. All boards have a responsibility to articulate prerequisites for candidates, orient new members, and periodically and comprehensively evaluate their own performance.

Hire, support and evaluate the Executive Director. The board should ensure that the Executive Director has the moral and professional support he or she needs to further the goals of the organization.

Participate in sub-committees. Board members have the option to lead/participate in subcommittees including the Finance Committee and Impact Committee.

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TIME COMMITMENT

  • Participate in quarterly online board meetings and annual review (2+ hours per meeting)�
  • Participate in one in person board meeting per year, as funding allows (2 days) �
  • Option to participate in and/or lead sub-committees (5+ hours per month)�
  • Serve for a two year term, renewable for up to five terms

Total time estimate: Approximately 80+ hours per year or 6 hours per month

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WHY SERVE?

  • Make an impact
  • Gain expertise on complex issues
  • Build valuable networks and relationships
  • Grow as a leader through experience
  • Community recognition
  • Channel creative energy

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INTERESTED? JOIN US!

Submit your application to join us as a board member by August 24: https://goo.gl/forms/KaAMRFmrZgBxT8hA3

For more information, please visit www.growahead.org.

If you have any questions please contact Ryan Zinn (ryan@growahead.org) and Alexandra Groome (coordinator@growahead.org).