University of Maryland Alumni Association Board of Governors At-Large Members’ Roles and Responsibilities

Role of the Board of Governors:

The Board of Governors serves as an advisory body for the alumni association, a non-profit, 501-c-3 organization. The association’s mission is to connect, cultivate and channel the power of alumni to enrich themselves and advance the university. Board members provide the foresight, oversight, and insight that lead the association in this mission and its related goals. While day-to-day operations are led by the Executive Director (ED), the Board-ED relationship is a partnership with open lines of communications.

At-large Board Member Requirements:

• Be graduates of the University of Maryland, College Park;
• Be life members of the Alumni Association;
• Contribute annually and consider major and planned gifts to the association, the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center or the university overall (as applicable);
• Actively participate by serving on a board committee and attending three full-board meetings a year;
• Attend at least one signature university or Alumni Association event a year, such as Homecoming, the Awards Gala or Maryland Day;
• Serve as ambassadors to the greater community and beyond, promoting the university, Alumni Association and the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center to prospective students and their parents, fellow alumni and the general public;
• Actively recruit new members and donors to the Alumni Association, preferably at the lifetime membership or major gift level, and encourage further participation in their alma mater through volunteerism;
• Encourage alumni and friends to volunteer and/or make a gift to the University (preferably major)

Board Member’s role:

• Work with the Executive Director to determine and guide the mission and strategic direction
• Serve as a trustee and steward, acting on behalf of both alumni and the university.
• Advance the association’s mission and goals.
• Provide input on the operations of the association
• Actively monitor and evaluate the organization, services, membership and finances.
• Gain an understanding of the association’s finances and annual budget;
• Maintain effective working relationship with Alumni Association team, through the ED’s direction
• Demonstrate effective practice of bylaws, meeting management and general procedures

Board Member Fundamental Responsibilities:

Duty of Care:

• Exercise reasonable care in the decision making process on behalf of the organization.
• Represent interests well

Duty of Loyalty:

• Faithfulness to the organization, and not using membership for personal gain.
• Avoid situations as defined by State nonprofit corporation statutes, which constitute conflict of interest.

Duty of Obedience:

• Adherence to the mission of the organization.
• Nonprofits rely heavily on public trust, so the public has a right to expect that money and other gifts will be used for the purpose intended.