CHICAGO TOOL LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPLICATION

The Chicago Tool Library is a pay-what-you-can, membership-based nonprofit lending library. Our mission is to to provide equitable access to tools, equipment, and information to allow all Chicagoans to learn, share, and create. Please explore our website here to learn more about our mission, vision, activities, and budget. 

Our organization is looking to grow our working board of directors. This group of leaders will participate in strategic decision-making, strengthen the long-term sustainability of the organization, and continue to establish the processes and culture for future boards of directors.

EXPECTATIONS OF THE BOARD AS A WHOLE

The board of directors is the highest leadership body of The Chicago Tool Library (CTL). This structure holds legal and fiduciary responsibility for the organization. The board works to ensure the sustainability of CTL through healthy governance, accountability, and oversight. Above all, they ensure that the organization serves the best interests of the public.

• Advocate for and represent CTL to the public.
• Ensure CTL’s financial health and participate in budget planning.
• Oversee hiring, firing, and evaluation of an Executive Director as necessary.
• Assess, amend, and approve CTL’s bylaws, board handbook, and the board’s meeting/voting structures.
• Document the board’s code of conduct, culture, and expectations.
• Oversee efforts to keep CTL’s mission and vision up to date.
• Participate in strategic planning work to chart CTL's future.

• Be willing to commit to a 2 year term.
• Be communicative about your changing availability, progress, needs, and concerns in your role.
• Prepare for, attend, and actively participate in at least 80% of board meetings. There are typically 8-12 board meetings per year, scheduled with group input.
• Sign up for and maintain an active CTL membership.
  • Note: this requires that all applicants must be Chicago residents
• Serve as an active advocate and ambassador for the organization.
• Dedicate meaningful time and effort between board meetings to progress your individual commitments (keep reading for more information about individual commitments).
• Be prepared for the possibility of taking on a leadership role as an officer (President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer) or committee chair. Roles described here.
• Help to further CTL’s fundraising priorities by leveraging network and connections, strategizing, or making personal financial contributions.
   

Instead of a standard financial commitment (aka Give/Get), CTL uses a reciprocal engagement agreement crafted with each board member’s input which may or may not include fundraising.  We hope to remove barriers to entry while also enabling leaders to contribute in ways that make the most sense for them.

Board commitments will be specific and actionable goals. Some examples are listed below, but this list is not exhaustive. After joining the board, each director will design their commitments with the help of the Board President by aligning their skills/interests with the tool library’s needs. Some directors may make multiple commitments, and some may only have one. We trust each board member to be realistic about what they can accomplish.

Examples of personal commitments:

• I will serve as board Treasurer and provide monthly budget updates.
• I will chair the fundraising committee for one year.
• I will donate $500 OR I will raise $2500.
• I will find three achievable grant opportunities for CTL.
• I will find and supervise a pro-bono legal review of CTL’s documentation.

This policy was influenced by Community Centric Fundraising and articles like “Focusing on fundraising goals is harmful - let’s measure love instead”.

This application should take 10-20 minutes to complete. Please note that it cannot save your progress.