The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration, the world’s first eye bank, is devoted to restoring sight through eye donations and cornea transplants, as well as providing ocular tissue for research into treatment and cures for other eye diseases. Public awareness about the need for eye donations is a key component of our efforts to restore sight to thousands of men, women and children each year.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
Foundational to the success of any non-profit is a well-functioning Board of Directors. The fundamental duties of the Board are establishing the broad goals and policies in support of the overall mission, ensuring that there are adequate resources (money, people, access, facilities, etc.) to accomplish the agreed upon goals, and providing fiscal oversight to ensure that resources are used adequately. The Board serves a public interest in its oversight of an organization’s delivery of services and management of finances.
Responsibilities of an Eye-Bank Board Member
- To be knowledgeable about the organization—its mission, strengths and needs.
- To attend Board meetings and be prepared to help formulate policy for the organization.
- To serve on Board committees, as appropriate.
- To be available for consultation and willing to use expertise at a level that will enhance the organization (but which is also practical in terms of time commitments by the individual).
- To be an ambassador for the organization with relevant public constituencies.
- To be responsible for the fiscal and legal health of the organization.
- To strengthen the organization’s financial base by assisting in fund-raising efforts, and by personally contributing meaningfully in keeping with individual resources.
Qualifications to be sought in Eye-Bank Board members:
- Ability to personally contribute and/or to raise funding necessary to support the activities of the organization.
- Unique skillset and professional experience / Ability to consult on strategic plans.
- Community awareness: identification with and leadership in the community to be served.
- Diversity of perspective: ethnic/racial/gender/age, etc.
- Access to information/resources: individual philanthropists, foundations, corporations, local government, etc.
Benefits of serving on The Eye-Bank’s Board:
The benefits of serving on the organization’s board include the opportunity to:
- Contribute to the profound mission of sight restoration
- Apply your professional skills and acquire new ones
- Work alongside community and business leaders
- Receive recognition for your honorable contributions