2024 Call for Board Members

Nomination Form

Click here to submit a board candidate nomination

Overview

Each fall, Apra-MN holds elections to select new members to serve on our board of directors. Serving on the Apra-MN board is a great way to help guide the growth of our profession, support your own professional development, make new connections, and give back to our prospect development community.

Board candidates can be nominated by themselves or someone else. Nominations are open to anyone who has been a current Apra-MN chapter member and worked in a related field for one year or more, as well as anyone who is a current member of a different Apra network but has connections to Minnesota.

Directors serve two-year terms, starting in January of each year, and take on specialized roles to support our chapter (such as marketing and communications, member recruitment and development, programming, or chapter leadership).

Our board has a maximum of 10 director positions. Next year, we will have 5 open director positions and opportunities to take on a specialized role in key areas. More information about elections will be coming soon! If you are interested in learning more about what serving on the board is like or would like more information, please reach out to Joe Hennen at jhennen@apra-mn.org.

Election Timeline

• September 1st: Nomination form opens
• September 30th: Nomination form closes
• October 1st: Voting commences
• October 2nd (Apra-MN Conference): Voting continues
• October 6th: Voting closes
• October 9th: Board meeting; candidates approved
• October-November: Onboarding

Nomination Process and Method

In order to be selected for the Apra-MN board, a candidate must be nominated and voted on by our membership. Candidates may nominate themselves or someone else. Communication about the nomination process will be sent in late August, and the virtual nomination form will be made available on September 1st. This form will be available via member email and on our website.

Requirements

1. Candidates for the board of directors must: a) Have been a member of Apra-MN, Apra International or an affiliated Apra chapter in good standing for the 12-month period preceding the nomination; and, b) have worked at least one (1) year in advancement research, analytics or relationship management.
2. Those members who derive more than 50% of their income on a for-profit status basis are eligible to serve on the board of directors but must recuse themselves in relevant voting.

Responsibilities

• Serve a two-year term, beginning January 1st, 2024 and ending December 31st, 2025
• Attend board meetings (held virtually for one hour approximately every month)
• Serve in a particular board role, either as an officer (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer) or as a chair or co-chair for one of our key areas: Marketing/Communications, Membership, or Programming
• Make a commitment to participate actively in Apra-MN activities and events, including regularly scheduled workshops and conferences
• Represent the membership during discussions and decisions
• Prepare for meetings, and review and comment on minutes and reports
• Build working relationships with fellow board and committee members
• Communicate with board members and volunteers outside of meetings

Benefits of Service

• Grow your network: Serving on the board is a great way to connect with other members and colleagues in the advancement research field - both in Minnesota and throughout the country - and make new connections.
• Gain leadership experience: As a board member, you can be responsible for helping to shape the content that our members have access to and the direction of the advancement research field in Minnesota.
• Share your expertise and learn new skills: Board members take on various responsibilities and develop skills related to marketing, programming, website development, policy and financial oversight, and more.
• No member dues: Board members are not charged member dues or programming dues during the course of their service.

Available Roles

In 2024, we will have five open director positions. We anticipate that all executive roles (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary) may be filled by directors continuing their service into 2024. Known open roles include:

● Membership: Enhances the experience of current and future Apra-MN chapter members through maintaining complete and accurate membership records. Actively stewards new and existing members, sponsors, volunteers, and speakers in an effort to strengthen their overall experience and relationship with the chapter. Facilitates all membership logistics and helps resolve membership issues. Chairs the chapter’s membership subcommittee.

● Mentoring: Provides opportunities for prospect development professionals who are new to the field to have a more experienced mentor who provides guidance and knowledge. Works to make the mentoring experience valuable for both mentor and mentee by providing opportunities for professional development throughout the mentoring period. Manages pairings of mentor/mentees, tracks time in the program and solicits feedback from program participants.

● Programming: Strives to provide new, ongoing learning opportunities that benefit chapter members. Engages membership to gather ideas on the desired shape (speakers, content, schedule, cost, etc.) of program offerings. Coordinates all programming opportunities within established budgetary parameters. Chairs the chapter’s programming subcommittee.

● Webmaster & Communications: Provides chapter information regarding Apra-MN events, membership, calendar, policies, etc. to Apra-MN members and the development community at large through a variety of mediums. Maintains and enforces the integrity of the Apra-MN brand. Serves as Webmaster for the official Apra-MN website. Creates and sends The Networker newsletter and maintains and updates event notifications. Serves as a spokesperson and advocate for Apra-MN. Chairs the chapter’s communications subcommittee.

● Marketing & Communications: Serves as a spokesperson and advocate for Apra-MN. Strives to enhance professional relationships with other local and national associations and fundraising partners to educate their associates about the benefits/opportunities of Apra-MN membership. Actively markets benefits to other local non-profits and builds beneficial relationships with other siimilar professional associations and sponsors. Maintains and provides social media updates regarding chapter events, job alerts, and other important member information.

Many thanks to our amazing Apra-MN community!

Joe Hennen, Apra-MN Vice President