Board of Directors Position(s) Open

The mission of RightRides for Women’s Safety is to build safer communities by ending gender-based harassment and sexual assault. In our flagship program, we offer women and LGBTQ individuals a free, late-night ride home to ensure their safe commute to or through high-risk areas. The service is made possible with the help of over 150 dedicated volunteers and a sponsorship from Zipcar, which donates the cars used each week. Since 2004, we have provided over 6,000 safe rides home and have received numerous civic awards and media coverage. We are also a founding member and the managing partner of New Yorkers for Safe Transit, a coalition of organizations working to address gender-based violence and increase public safety in the city’s mass transit systems. For more information, please visit www.NYFST.org.

2013 Board Openings

We are currently seeking candidates who are interested in joining our board and sharing their expertise and networks in order to advance the organization’s mission and programs. Ideal candidates are passionate and knowledgeable about women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, anti-violence efforts, racial justice, community empowerment, and/or grassroots activism.

We require each board member to contribute 6-10 hours a month, on average. If we have a larger board, this commitment will be reduced. We are particularly interested in applicants with the following skills and interests. If you desire training in any of these areas, we can provide it:

Financial Oversight - Candidates who have experience in accounting or finance and are able to contribute significantly to the board’s oversight of the organization’s finances. Ideally, candidates will have financial-management expertise and/or hold a CPA designation.

Strategy and Management - Candidates with expertise in strategic planning, operations management, mission oversight, and/or program evaluation. Members must have strong interest in working closely with the Executive Director, staff, and key volunteers to develop a long-term operations strategy for the organization.

Responsibilities and Expectations

Each board member signs an agreement in good faith to take an active role within the organization and to serve for at least one year. Major responsibilities for all board members include:

• Attend 10 board meetings per year, and additional meetings as appropriate to board membership. Some may be conference calls.
• Adhere to the board’s “give or get” commitment of $1,000 per calendar year
• Play active role in fundraising efforts, developing relationships with major donors, corporate sponsors, in-kind donors, and other partners
• Provide proper, informed financial oversight
• Participate in the recruitment and orientation of new board members
• Keep abreast of best practices and opportunities in the field; share with other board members and Executive Director
• Attend and promote the organization’s events
• Participate in annual performance evaluation of Executive Director

How to Apply