Board member application

Overview

In selecting members for the Health Forward Board of Directors, rigorous candidate consideration is given to ensure that selected candidates meet the qualifications outlined below and align with Health Forward’s purpose, mission, and values.

Important deadlines and mandatory interview dates

July 1 – Aug. 31, 2024
Open application period

Oct. 15, 2024
First round of in-person interviews

No later than Oct. 31, 2024
Status notification

Dec. 4, 2024
Final interview at full board meeting

Selection process

The process for electing directors was established by the Missouri Attorney General when Health Forward was created in 2003. The process requires time and steps that go beyond those that are usually involved in recruiting candidates for board service. However, it ensures that leadership emerges from qualified candidates who generally represent gender, race and ethnicity, socio-economic, age, culture, service area geography, professional and ethnic diversity, and are in alignment with Health Forward’s current direction.

The Community Advisory Council (CAC) oversees this significant task. The CAC is a 24-member group that is appointed by various elected officials throughout Health Forward’s service area. The CAC Nominating Committee is charged with reviewing applications, conducting preliminary interviews, and recommending a slate of nominees to the board of directors for final interviews and selection. The CAC is required to approve the final selection of candidates elected by the board.

Candidates who have expertise or sincere interest in improving the health of resilient communities are encouraged to apply. Health Forward defines health broadly and recognizes it’s shaped by social, economic, and environmental conditions. Accordingly, to improve health outcomes, we apply three key levers – leadership, advocacy, and resources.

Terms

Health Forward directors serve without pay for a three-year term. Directors may be re-elected by the board for a second, three-year term.

Conflict of Interest

Health Forward has a strong commitment to integrity. All who join the organization as associates or board members are asked to declare any conflicts that would compromise the ability to be objective in decision-making. While we welcome members of the community who have ties to our grant work, there will be restrictions on those board members’ ability to vote on or discuss any items that would constitute a conflict of interest. Please note, affiliation with a current or future grantee of Heath Forward neither helps nor harms that organization. No board member can personally benefit financially from any grant or contract work with Health Forward Foundation.

Public officials are not eligible to serve as directors. For purposes of this exclusion, public official means any elected or appointed officer or employee (other than those who serve without compensation) of any city, county, state, or federal government, or has governmental policy-making authority. Any director who chooses to run for election to public office must resign as a board member upon filing documents declaring his or her candidacy.

All board members are required annually to complete and submit an attestation and statement of personal interests, which is outlined in the conflict of interest policy, that will be shared during orientation upon election to the board.

Meetings and attendance

Board meetings are currently held quarterly at Health Forward Foundation. A virtual attendance option is always provided.

Board members are invited to serve on at least one committee, most of which also meet quarterly in addition to the regular full board meetings.

It is customary for board members to spend at least 4-6 hours each month attending board and/or committee meetings. In addition, board members also spend time reading material in preparation for these meetings.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and/or the following three counties in Missouri (Cass, Jackson, or Lafayette) or a Kansas resident, taxpayer, property owner, or business owner in one of the following three counties in Kansas (Johnson, Wyandotte, or Allen). These six counties constitute the Health Forward Foundation service area.
• Each director will be expected to contribute perspective in one or more of the following areas: promoting community wellness, institutional asset management and investment management, finance, philanthropic administration, delivery of health care services, improving the health of the communities of focus served by the Corporation, public health, and the practice of diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism
• Must have a commitment to racial equity and economic justice.
• Must have demonstrated core leadership attributes.
• Must have a recognized reputation for integrity and competence.
• Must have demonstrated an ability to devote the time necessary to fulfill board responsibilities and regularly attend meetings.
• Must understand and appreciate the role and responsibility of a public health philanthropic foundation and the need to balance various constituency interests.

Application deadline

Qualified candidates are asked to complete the online application below. Applicants must also submit a .PDF document of their most current résumé (no more than 5 pages). You may upload your résumé at the end of the application using the “Choose file” button.

All materials must be submitted on or before Aug. 31, 2024.

For questions or concerns, contact Health Forward Chief Operations Officer Brenda Calvin at bcalvin@healthforward.org.