The Community Roots Housing Foundation seeks nominations of potential board member candidates from the Seattle area.
Read the board member role description and review the official call for nominations.
The nominations deadline for priority consideration is Friday, March 4.
The primary purpose of the Foundation is to raise funds to sustain general operations and support programs at Community Roots Housing, a legally independent public development authority that builds, owns and operates affordable multifamily housing to help address our region’s ongoing affordable housing crisis. The Foundation has helped to expand Community Roots programs such as Resident Services and the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict, as well as launch other initiatives like the collaborative $38M Rise Together capital campaign.
Since its founding 12 years ago, the Foundation has raised more than $40 million to support affordable housing and community development efforts in Seattle. This includes $11 million to support the Community Roots annual fund and $33 million to fund capital projects that meet multiple community goals, like the award-winning 12th Avenue Arts and Liberty Bank Building projects. The Foundation is also responsible for the celebrated fundraising event Omnivorous, a fall food and beverage showcase featuring tastings from the finest Seattle bars, restaurants, and distilleries.
The Foundation Board seeks individuals who are passionate about affordable housing, community development and social justice in our region and have skills in the areas of fundraising, communications, marketing, and events. We are looking particularly for candidates who are well-connected in the community with a network to leverage for events and giving; who have connections to corporations (especially in the tech sector); who have connections to family foundations with a local presence; who have experience in event leadership and planning; and/or who are well-connected in the food/beverage industry.
Members of the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Board additionally invites those with existing connections to Community Roots Housing, as well as qualifications in one or more of the above areas, to submit their names for nomination.
The Community Roots Foundation Board is composed of around 12 members who serve two-year terms. The Foundation Board meets quarterly, with the expectation that members join a committee (Individual Giving, Events & Sponsorship, or Joint Board Development Committee) that meets monthly for one hour. Currently, most meetings take place virtually on Zoom.
The Foundation seeks candidates who demonstrate the following interests, abilities and characteristics:
- Comfortable with fundraising
- Credibility with the professional community and government entities with which Community Roots works
- Reliability, sound judgment, flexibility and creativity
- Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with other Community Roots Foundation Board members, staff, stakeholders, and groups with diverse backgrounds and perspectives
- Ability to ground thinking in social/racial justice and community-centric fundraising and/or willingness to learn
Prospective candidates should demonstrate:
- A commitment of time and personal resources to Community Roots Housing Foundation endeavors
- A willingness to serve on a Foundation Board committee
- A willingness to represent Community Roots and the Foundation at community functions
- Commitment to Community Roots’ mission and values.
Interested parties should submit their resume and a short statement of interest to Sarah Shoemake-Gamble at sshoemake@communityrootshousing.org. Nominations must be received by Friday, March 4 for priority consideration.
