MUHSEN Board Member At-Large

Introduction to MUHSEN

MUHSEN Vision

MUHSEN envisions Muslim communities where individuals with disabilities and their families are welcomed, supported, and included across the span of their lifetime.

MUHSEN Mission

MUHSEN is a nonprofit organization serving families and individuals with intellectual, mental, and physical disabilities. MUHSEN works to establish inclusive and accessible American Muslim communities for individuals with disabilities and their families. We do this through engaging in community advocacy and education (Awareness) and implementing and encouraging programs and services (Accommodation), leading ultimately to inclusive and welcoming communities (Acceptance).

Description

Muhsen’s Board of Directors is composed of 6-9 members. Muhsen’s Board of Directors is the governing body, overseeing vision, mission, and strategic priorities of the organization. Board members hold overall fiscal and managerial oversight responsibility for Muhsen. They are responsible for making decisions, delegating work, and assuring decisions are carried out in the manner intended. Ultimately, board members serve as ambassadors for Muhsen’s mission, inside and outside of organizational commitments.

Role of the Board:

1. Determine mission and purposes. It is the board’s responsibility to create and review a statement of mission and purpose that articulates the organization’s goals, means, and primary constituents served.
2. Select the Chief Executive. Boards must reach consensus on the Chief Executive’s responsibilities and undertake a careful search to find the most qualified individual for the position.
3. Support and evaluate the Chief Executive. The board should ensure that the Chief Executive has the moral and professional support he or she needs to further the goals of the organization.
4. Ensure effective planning. Boards must actively participate in an overall planning process and assist in implementing and monitoring the plan’s goals.
5. The board’s responsibility is to determine which programs are consistent with the organization’s mission and monitor their effectiveness.
6. Ensure adequate financial resources. One of the board’s foremost responsibilities is to provide adequate resources for the organization to fulfill its mission.
7. Protect assets and provide financial oversight. The board must assist in developing the annual budget and ensuring that proper financial controls are in place.
8. Build a competent board. All boards have a responsibility to articulate prerequisites for candidates, orient new members, and periodically and comprehensively evaluate its own performance.
9. Ensure legal and ethical integrity. The board is ultimately responsible for adherence to legal standards and ethical norms.
10. Enhance the organization’s public standing. The board should clearly articulate the organization’s mission, accomplishments, and goals to the public and garner support from the community.

Board Responsibilities:

• Serve as a leading ambassador of Muhsen’s mission, programs, and services.
• Agree to a two-year board term with the option of renewal for three consecutive terms.
• Regularly attend and prepare for quarterly Board meetings and important related meetings.
• Commit to professional development
• Serve on at least one sub-committee and attend committee meetings.
• Make a serious commitment to participate actively in Board and other Muhsen work.
• Prepare and approve necessary organizational policies.
• Commit to a significant annual philanthropic commitment as determined by the individual board member and fundraise on behalf of the organization.
• Participate in annual self-evaluation of personal board service.
• Participate in the hiring and oversight process of the Executive Director.
• Be knowledgeable about Muhsen’s mission, vision, programs, and events.
• Stay informed about Board matters, prepare themselves for meetings, and review and comment on issues of importance.
• Participate in creation of strategic plan and conduct annual review of the strategic plan.
• Get to know other Board members and Muhsen stakeholders and build a collegial working relationship that contributes to consensus.
• Respond to requests for feedback or decisions between meetings in a timely manner.
• Understand financial statements or commit to learning about nonprofit financial oversight.

Qualifications for Service

• Interest in and willingness to support Muhsen’s goals and objectives
• Initiative
• Integrity
• Analytical ability
• Sensitivity and awareness
• Leadership
• Sound decision-making ability
• Planning skills
• Ability to organize and monitor work
• Collaborative
• Ability to easily use email and other technology such as cloud services
• Commitment to open and honest communication

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