As a rapidly expanding organization, the Taproot Foundation’s Board governs our work while supporting our plan to achieve national scale and sustainability. Our Board is characterized by a strong entrepreneurial culture - approaching challenges and opportunities with equal interest and discernment.

Its membership consists of national leaders with a diversity of skills, perspectives and experience to help advance the mission of the Taproot Foundation. Each Director is able to contribute to the success of the organization in different ways that collectively enables the organization to make the right impact.

Principles

• Individual Directors are nominated by a Nominating Committee, with the goal of building a Board consisting of diverse background and skills, ensuring the Board represents diversity of geographic regions, functional skills, nonprofit and for-profit leadership, and small and large organizations.
• There may be a minimum of three members and a maximum of 24 members on the Board at any time.
• Directors are elected to two-year terms, with a maximum of three consecutive terms, for a total of six consecutive years; a Director serving as a Board Officer may not serve for more than four consecutive years (or two terms) in any given Officer role.
• The Board meets four times per year. Given the geographic distribution of the members, most meetings are held via conference call, with generally one in-person meeting per year.
• We do not compensate any Director for their contributions to the organization; Board participation is completely voluntary.
• The Board demonstrates it commitment to the organization and community through 100% participation in individual giving, as well as 100% participation in raising support.

The Board has three standing committees to manage specific Board functions. Committees meet on an as-needed basis, anywhere from once a month to once a year.

Executive Committee – Consists of the Board’s Officers who are responsible for monitoring operating policies to advance the organization’s mission. This includes tracking progress related to the strategic plan, evaluating the President and approving his / her compensation, and overseeing the quality and integrity of the organization’s financial reporting, accounting, and internal controls.

Nominating Committee - Identifies and nominates new members for the Board; provides leadership to the Board in its annual self-evaluation.

Audit Committee – Serves as the direct reporting body for the Taproot Foundation's independent auditors.