Open Call for Board Members — Forward Through Ferguson

Overview | Who We’re Looking For | How to Apply | Selection Timeline

Forward Through Ferguson seeks to add new members to our Board of Directors.

UPDATE– Application materials are due by 11:59 PM on November 13.

Forward Through Ferguson (FTF) is an anti-racist systems change organization based in St. Louis, Missouri. Embracing the Ferguson Commission’s mandate, Forward Through Ferguson centers impacted communities and mobilizes accountable bodies to advance racially equitable systems and policies that ensure all people in the St. Louis region can thrive.

To meet this mission, FTF:

Tells stories (storytelling) that amplify the lived-experiences of impacted communities and people
Provides support and strategy for coalitions and other organizing groups advancing policy or systems change
Makes policy recommendations grounded in trailblazing data & research
Provides Racial Equity capacity building for changemakers to advance Racial Equity by providing roundtables, workshops, and equity assessments
Leads next practices in Justice Philanthropy to ensure sustainable resources that empower people of color to lead, and that heal the core and change the conditions of racial inequities

Since the sunset of the Ferguson Commission on December 31st, 2015, Forward Through Ferguson has served as the region’s transition and action team keeping the report, its 189 calls to action, and a St. Louis vision for Racial Equity from gathering dust. We celebrate our wins while dreaming of and working towards a future where anti-racist systems change is no longer urgent and necessary—because Justice For All, Youth at the Center, and the Opportunity to Thrive are a reality.

Read about our current board here.

As a Board, we are particularly focused on:

Implementation of our newly adopted 2023-26 Strategic Plan by:

Strengthening the organizational infrastructure and staffing model to sustain and expand the work of FTF moving forward;
Launching a Community Governance model that centers and elevates the voice of the community that volunteered more than 30,000 hours hours to compile an exhaustive policy roadmap following the uprising after the killing of 17-year old Michael Brown, Jr. in 2014.
Increasing fundraising that allows FTF to fund its work and mission, and catalyze the work of others to advance Racial Equity with 100% board participation in resource development efforts.

We’re looking for you if you have some combination of the following:

Experience or Background

Board experience (either non-profit or for-profit) and can see clearly how the board structure can be leveraged to support experimentation, risk, and unproven strategies;
No board experience, but are an engaged member of a community organization who feels your voice and perspective is often missing in board or executive-level deliberations and decision-making;
The willingness to ensure our board reflects the community by bringing your own lived experience or your close connection to community members who may not see themselves reflected on our board—including but not limited to young leaders (aged 21-30), elders, residents of St. Clair or St. Charles Counties, and community leaders who are Black men, and non-binary or gender-expansive leaders.

Skills & Expertise

Experience, ideas, and energy around one or more of the following areas:
- Community Centric Resource and Capacity Building (which can include fundraising, introductions to individuals/corporations/foundations, in-kind services, volunteer recruitment etc.);
- Nonprofit finance practices and procedures;
- Racial Equity policy and advocacy work;
- Marketing and communications:including experience that will offer thought partnership on messaging and branding in traditional media outlets, digital media platforms, and community-based networks;
- Data and data analysis expertise with a Racial Equity and Systems Change lens.

Commitment & Mindset

Commitment to practicing radical listening and collaboration;
A growth mindset that questions the default and is comfortable challenging the status quo;
Commitment to fundraising and willingness to solicit individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and/or secure government grants;
Don’t want or need another line on your resume, don’t expect much praise or glory, and don’t need this work to feed your ego, but hold passion for the causes and are willing to be vulnerable in doing work that is often unprecedented, and at times overwhelming.

Interested? Here’s what we need to know:

Fill out the interest form- link here
Submit responses to the following questions:
a. Tell us about your background and your vision for Racial Equity in the St. Louis Region.
b. Tell us about your experience with systems change and/or policy advocacy.
c. Tell us about your experience and willingness to assist with fundraising.
d. What led you to apply? And, anything else you’d like to share.

Your submission can take whatever form you feel expresses you best—from a traditional cover letter, to a video, voice note, manifesto, or vision board. Whatever the format, cover all the bases and submit everything to boardrecruitment@forwardthroughferguson.org.

Selection Timeline:

Application materials are due by 11:59 PM on November 13.

We will interview candidates this fall and make selections by the end of the year. We will share a more detailed timeline with candidates who reach the finalist stage.

If you have questions about the process that are not answered here, please submit them to boardrecruitment@forwardthroughferguson.org.

Let’s Connect:

forwardthroughferguson.org | transforming911.org | stillunequal.org

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