Founding Board Member, Board of Directors (Volunteer)

**About the organization** The Young Shakespeareans is an educational and youth\-development organization that uses extended, immersive Shakespeare\-based theatre residencies in historically under\-resourced Los Angeles public schools to build academic strength, creative capacity, social\-emotional skills, mental health and well\-being, and professional readiness. Each residency runs 40 to 60 hours of workshops for 25 to 30 students in grades 2 through 12, led by three teaching artists and supported by paid program alumni serving as teaching assistants. Every student completes at least three public performances on the stage of their own school. Roughly 400 students a year take part directly, and several thousand more see the work as student, family, and community audiences. For most of them it is their first live theatre, their first Shakespeare, and the first performance they have ever seen at their school. Theatre is our method; the performance is how the learning is assessed. We hire teaching artists, technical directors, and alumni assistants; we do not run on volunteer labor. Our motto is "If I can do Shakespeare, I can do anything!" **About the opportunity** The Young Shakespeareans is currently a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives and is in the process of moving to operating as an independent 501(c)(3\), with independence targeted for January 1, 2027\. We are creating a founding Board of Directors to support executing our Strategic Plan to scale service to additional under\-resourced schools and students in LA County and beyond. The Founding Board will be named in the Articles of Incorporation, adopt the bylaws and conflict of interest policy, approve the transition agreement with our fiscal sponsor, and set the governance culture of the organization from its first day, serving alongside members of our current advisory board who are moving onto the governing board. This is an unpaid volunteer governance role, not an employment position. Directors and officers insurance and indemnification are provided. **Responsibilities** Directors attend six two\-hour board meetings a year and serve on one standing committee (Executive, Finance and Audit, Governance and Nominating, or Development). Directors hold the fiduciary duties of care, loyalty, and obedience, and share responsibility for organizational strategy, financial oversight, and resource development. Founding directors will also take part in adopting the bylaws and conflict of interest policy and approving the transition agreement with the current fiscal sponsor. The annual give\-or\-get expectation will be set collectively by the Founding Board, with confidential hardship accommodations available through the Board Chair. **Qualifications** We are building a board of seven to eleven directors and are seeking candidates whose experience fits one of three areas. Fund development and philanthropy: professionals with experience in major gifts, foundation and corporate relations, or institutional philanthropy in Los Angeles, and people with the networks to open doors for an organization moving from sponsored project to independent nonprofit. Arts education and program partnerships: educators, school and district leaders, arts administrators, and youth development practitioners who understand how programs get placed and sustained in public schools, and who can help us build partnerships with schools, districts, and other arts organizations. Community, parent, and youth advocacy: parents, alumni, organizers, and advocates rooted in the South Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley communities we serve, with a commitment to Los Angeles public schools and to the students who attend them. Prior board service is welcome and not required. We are committed to a board that reflects the students and communities we serve in race, ethnicity, gender, age, lived experience, and professional background. **Selection process** Recruitment begins with an exploratory conversation, followed by a review of our board materials, a program immersion, a written statement of interest, review by the governance committee, election, and orientation. The process typically takes six to ten weeks. **How to apply** Apply through Indeed or send a brief note about which of the three areas fits you and why, along with a resume or LinkedIn profile, to theyoungshakespeareans@gmail.com. We will follow up to schedule an exploratory conversation. Pay: $24\.47 \- $29\.47 per hour Expected hours: 1\.0 – 2\.0 per week Work Location: Remote