Jobs and Internships

 

Common Good City Farm is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 and has a mission to sustain and support a more equitable community through growing, learning, cooking, and sharing fresh food together. Common Good’s half-acre farm in DC’s LeDroit Park is the principal site for programs providing hands-on training in food production, healthy eating, and environmental sustainability to people of all ages and backgrounds.  

About Us:

Common Good is an exciting and diverse workplace that offers employees many opportunities to be themselves and be co-creators in programming. We believe in supporting our employees through their hardships as well as celebrating their successes. If you’re ready to be part of a dynamic team of dedicated staff, volunteers, and board members, then this is the place for you!

 

We are looking for new Board Members.

Are you interested in joining our Board of Directors? Express your interest here. 

Process for Interested Candidates

  • Submit the Board Interest Form. We accept candidates on a rolling basis.

  • The interested candidate interviews with current board members and the Executive Director.

  • During the interview phase, the interested candidate provides a resume (or some other bio that outlines their experience and interest, e.g. export of LinkedIn profile, a video or audio recording, or a letter) and confirms their interest in being formally nominated.

  • The candidate will be contacted with the result of the board vote, which will occur either at the upcoming board meeting or virtually, timing dependent.  

Our Commitment to Equity

In line with our commitment to equity, the Board of Directors Nomination process seeks candidates representative of the community we work alongside in the pursuit of our mission to create a vibrant, informed, and well-nourished community through urban farming.

We encourage women, black, indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), bilingual and multicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities to apply. Interested candidates shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, medical condition, or other status.

Creating an equitable organization and local food system is an ongoing process. We look forward to hearing from all interested community members.

Board Recruitment Profiles

We are recruiting for community leaders with experience and skills in the following areas. As of summer 2022, we have a particular need for a candidate with financial expertise (Profile 1).

 

Profile 1: Financial Expert

·       Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Certified Public Accountant, Business Owner, or Executive Director experience

·       Holds expertise in administrative and operational management and able to share best practices on organizational systems and processes

·       An understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements, experience with internal accounting controls, financial oversight, and an understanding finance and audit committees

Profile 2: Community Member / Food Justice Champion

·       Lived experience and/or practice of urban agriculture, food policy, food security, and food assistance

·       Additionally, we invite those who hold an understanding of the Washington DC food landscape and ways to leverage local resources or coalitions

·       Track record as a community member in service of social and/or racial justice within DC; former program participants, active members of the community and/or local civic associations will also be considered

 

 

 

Profile 3: Fundraising / Developments / Communications Leader

·       Fundraising, development, and/or those with fundraising events experience such as experience with overseeing events and people that support efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit individual, foundation, and corporate prospects and able to support thanking process

·       Experience with developing strategic communications with an understanding of how to leverage brand strategy to drive an organization’s visibility and impact

·       Ability to organize different fundraising communication efforts especially among the board to develop the skills of all peers towards collective goals and a background or interest in emerging community centric practices are welcome

 

 

Board of Directors Job Description 

Amended on May 27, 2019 (Originally Adopted May 21, 2014)

About Common Good City Farm

Common Good City Farm’s (CGCF) mission is to create a vibrant, informed, and well-nourished community through urban farming. We actively engage with all members of our diverse community and create opportunities for connections on our farm, while emphasizing intensive vegetable production and modeling best practices in sustainable urban agriculture.

Board of Directors Role

The Common Good City Farm Board of Directors supports the work of the Farm and provides leadership and strategic governance.  While day-to-day operations are led by the Farm’s Executive Director, the board’s role as the governing body of the organization is to provide direction and management of the affairs of the organization.  

Board Member Responsibilities

The board provides fiduciary oversight, ensures mission integrity, and hires, evaluates, and supports the Executive Director.

Leadership, governance and oversight: 

  • Serves as a trusted advisor to the Executive Director as they develop and implement Common Good City Farm’s strategic plan; 

  • Reviews outcomes and metrics created by the organization for evaluating its impact; 

  • Approves the organization’s annual budget, audit reports and material business decisions based on the board’s legal and fiduciary responsibilities; 

  • Assist in raising adequate resources for the activities of the organization;

  • Reviews agendas and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings; 

  • Responds to correspondence from the organization’s staff in a timely manner; 

  • Contributes to the annual performance evaluation of the Executive Director as requested; 

  • Assists the Governance and Nominations Committee, the Board Chair and the Executive Director in identifying and recruiting other board members; 

  • Partners with the Executive Director and other board members to ensure that board resolutions are carried out; 

  • Serves on at least one committee and takes on special assignments when asked and available; 

  • Nominate at least one professional for the board as part of the regular nominating process, based on the criteria of the Nominations and Governance Committee;

  • Represents the organization to external stakeholders, including volunteers, funders, local government and community partners, acting as ambassadors for the organization; and

  • Helps ensure the organization upholds its commitment to build a diverse board and staff.

Board members should not:

  • Engage in the day-to-day operation of the organization

  • Direct, evaluate, or hire staff other than the Executive Director

  • Make detailed programmatic decisions more appropriately left to staff

  • Make any commitment of CGCF staff or financial resources except with the prior authorization of the full board and the Executive Director

Fundraising: 

Common Good City Farm Board of Directors will consider the organization a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority.  So that the Farm can credibly solicit contributions from foundations, organizations, and individuals, all board members are expected to:  

  • Make an annual contribution commensurate with their capacity;

  • Introduce at least one new potential donor each year; and

  • Participate in development/fundraising efforts of the organization including the drafting and sending of donor acknowledgments, engaging in peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, etc. 

Board Terms and Participation

Common Good City Farm Board of Directors serve a three-year term and are eligible for re-appointment for one additional term.  After their second term, they must step down for one year before being considered for re-appointment to the board. They should familiarize themselves with the provisions of the organization's charter, bylaws, and policies, and ensure that they are being followed.

Board meetings are held every two months, and committee meetings are held throughout the year. Board members should schedule enough time in advance to review meeting agendas and supporting materials to assure active, informed participation – supporting materials can often be substantial, consistent with the fiduciary and governing responsibilities of a governing board. To remain in good standing, board members must attend at least three of the board meetings and at least one CGCF event each year.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

What does a Board of Directors Do?

  • The Common Good City Farm Board of Directors supports the work of the Farm and provides leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are led by the Farm’s Executive Director, the board’s role as the governing body of the organization is to provide direction and management of the affairs of the organization. Board Members are not paid employees. 

How many meetings are there per year?

  • We have one board meeting per two months, for approximately 6 each year. Each board member is also asked to serve on a committee. Committees meet on their own schedules during off months. Due to the evolving nature of COVID-19, board members should be prepared to participate in emergency board meetings if needed. Further, meetings take place remotely over Zoom and will remain so until it is safe to convene in person. 

What kind of time commitment is it?

  • Most board members spend about 5-10 hours a month working on board related duties. When you join the board, you agree that you can spend at least 5 hours per month in attendance to board/committee meetings, committee work, plus farm activities.

What kind of skills are you looking for?

  • There are recruitment profiles mentioned above. Generally, we are looking for people with a connection to our community and neighborhood. The recruitment profiles provide additional context on specific skill sets. You don't have to be a professional, but we'd like to hear about your experiences and how you think you would contribute to the organization.

Do you need to make a donation in order to be a board member?

  • Many organizations require board members to make a financial contribution as part of their membership. We recognize that people contribute to our organization in many ways, and do not have a minimum required donation. We ask our board members to:

  • Make an annual contribution (financial or otherwise) that is meaningful to them—for those making a financial contribution, we ask that Common Good be in among the top two organizations that receive donations from you;

  • Introduce at least one new potential donor each year; and

  • Participate in development/fundraising efforts of the organization including the drafting and sending of donor acknowledgments, engaging in peer-to-peer fundraising campaign (such as a "Donate your birthday" campaign), etc.

For additional information, please contact

Common Good City Farm, info@commongoodcityfarm.org

Board Chair, Mareeha Niaz at board@commongoodcityfarm.org

Vice Chair Galila Daniel, at vicechair@commongoodcityfarm.org

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