Join Our Board
Becoming a board member is more than just a title—it’s a chance to shape the future of our organization and the communities we serve. As a member of our board, you’ll provide strategic guidance, champion our mission, and help us grow with integrity and purpose. Your professional expertise, passion, and leadership can drive real change and ensure we stay focused, innovative, and impactful. This is an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded leaders, make meaningful decisions, and leave a lasting legacy. If you're ready to take your commitment to the next level, we’d be honored to have your voice at the table.
Overall Qualifications
All board members must meet the following qualifications to ensure effective governance in a hybrid (in-person and virtual) environment:
Experience
Relevant professional, volunteer, or lived experience demonstrating leadership, community engagement, or mission alignment.
Familiarity with nonprofit governance, operations, or New Jersey’s nonprofit ecosystem (preferred).
Experience collaborating in hybrid or virtual teams, contributing to remote planning or governance.
Additional Requirements
Commit to 10-15 hours per month, including regular board meetings, committee work, and occasional in-person events in New Jersey.
Ability to travel occasionally within Northern NJ for in-person events.
Disclose and manage conflicts of interest per the nonprofit’s conflict-of-interest policy.
Commitment to confidentiality and ethical standards, per Real Life Ready’s policies.
Skills
Strong interpersonal and communication skills for collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
Strategic thinking and problem-solving to advance organizational goals.
Proficiency in virtual tools (e.g., Zoom, Google Workspace, board management software) for hybrid governance.
Ability to leverage personal or professional networks to support the nonprofit’s mission.
Competencies
Commitment to the nonprofit’s mission, values, and diversity principles.
High integrity, ethical standards, and accountability in decision-making.
Passion for community service and driving positive impact.
Adaptability to the evolving needs of a new nonprofit.
Fiduciary responsibility, upholding the duties of care, loyalty, and obedience.
Available Positions
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Role Overview: The Treasurer oversees financial health, ensures accurate reporting, and ensures compliance with state and federal regulations.
Additional Qualifications:
Experience:
2+ years in financial management, preferably in a nonprofit, with budgeting or reporting experience.
Knowledge of nonprofit accounting (e.g., restricted funds, grants, Form 990) or NJ tax exemptions (preferred).
Skills:
Financial analysis to interpret budgets, statements, and cash flow.
Proficiency in accounting tools (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero) for hybrid financial management.
Clear reporting to make financial data accessible to non-financial board members.
Competencies:
Fiduciary responsibility to prioritize financial integrity.
Analytical thinking to identify risks and opportunities.
Transparency and accountability in financial oversight.
Commitment to diversity in financial decision-making.
Responsibilities:
Oversee accounting, reconciliation, and tracking of all financial transactions, maintaining proper documentation.
Provide a financial update at each board meeting, including account overview, expenses, and income.
Deposit funds within 5 business days of receipt and disburse payments per board-approved agreements, requiring invoices and W-9 forms.
Collaborate with the President to file state and federal reports, including NJ charitable registration (if applicable) and IRS Form 990.
Coordinate audits or financial reviews as required by law or board policy.
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Role Overview: The Membership Liaison represents members, fosters engagement, and supports recruitment and event strategies.
Additional Qualifications:
Experience:
3+ years in community or member engagement (e.g., alumni relations, volunteer coordination).
Experience recruiting volunteers or talent for organizational roles.
Proven social media engagement to increase participation.
Skills:
Relationship building to connect with members and alumni.
Social media proficiency (e.g., LinkedIn, Instagram) for engagement.
CRM proficiency (e.g., Salesforce, Mailchimp) for member data.
Competencies:
Member advocacy to represent concerns and foster trust.
Community building to cultivate an inclusive membership culture.
Collaboration with board roles to advance goals.
Commitment to inclusion in member engagement.
Responsibilities:
Act as the primary point of contact for members, sharing their concerns with the board.
Identify alumni for spotlight features with the Public Relations Specialist.
Network with alumni to identify benefit leads for the Benefits Specialist.
Support board recruitment of alumni for vacancies.
Engage members on social media to boost involvement.
Assist the Events & Marketing Manager with new member welcome strategies.
Cultivate an inclusive membership culture through active engagement.
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Role Overview: The Marketing Specialist manages branding, social media, website, and promotional materials to enhance the nonprofit’s image.
Additional Qualifications:
Experience:
3+ years in marketing, communications, or public relations, preferably in a nonprofit.
Experience with branding, content creation, and social media strategies.
Website management experience (e.g., WordPress, Squarespace).
Skills:
Content creation for social media, websites, and promotions.
Social media strategy using tools like Hootsuite or Buffer.
Website updates and basic security/SEO practices.
Analytics (e.g., Google Analytics) to optimize engagement.
Competencies:
Brand stewardship to maintain a positive image.
Creativity to develop innovative marketing strategies.
Attention to detail for professional materials.
Adaptability to address negative press.
Responsibilities:
Uphold branding per the Branding Kit, creating promotional materials.
Monitor and update social media, promotional materials, and the website with the Events Manager to address negative press.
Build and execute social media strategies through research, messaging, and audience identification.
Generate and share daily content to encourage community action.
Optimize social media accounts for visibility.
Analyze metrics to improve marketing efforts.
Design and update website content, ensuring functionality and security.
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Role Overview: The Corporate Partnerships Liaison secures corporate support, oversees agreements, and aligns partnerships with the nonprofit’s mission.
Additional Qualifications:
Experience:
4+ years in corporate partnerships, sponsorships, or fundraising.
Experience negotiating agreements with legal oversight.
Familiarity with nonprofit funding or corporate business community.
Skills:
Relationship management to build trust with partners.
Proposal development for sponsorships and funding.
Strategic planning for partnership vetting and sustainability.
Competencies:
Strategic thinking to identify high-value partnerships.
Ethical leadership for transparency and accountability.
Negotiation to balance nonprofit and corporate interests.
Advocacy for CSR initiatives.
Responsibilities:
Cultivate relationships with corporate partners for financial and in-kind support.
Review agreements with leadership and legal advisors for compliance.
Create vetting processes for partnership opportunities.
Identify new partnerships aligned with the nonprofit’s mission.
Act as a liaison between the board and corporate stakeholders.
Develop sponsorship packages and funding proposals.
Advocate for CSR initiatives benefiting both parties.
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Role Overview: The Young Professionals Program Coordinator designs and delivers a curriculum of services to support first-generation graduates transitioning into young professionals, with a focus on professional development for job securement. This role collaborates with board members (e.g., Membership Liaison, Marketing Specialist), external partners, and community stakeholders to create workshops, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities that enhance career readiness.
Additional Qualifications:
Experience:
3+ years in program coordination, career services, or professional development, preferably in a nonprofit, education, or workforce development setting.
Experience designing and delivering training programs or curricula, ideally for young adults or first-generation populations.
Familiarity with NJ’s job market, industries, or higher education ecosystem (preferred).
Skills:
Ability to create engaging, practical training content tailored to diverse learners.
Strong presentation and group facilitation skills for workshops and events, both virtual and in-person.
Effective communication to build relationships with graduates, employers, and partners.
Organized approach to planning, executing, and evaluating programs, meeting deadlines and goals.
Competencies:
Passion for empowering first-generation graduates and advancing Real Life Ready’s mission.
Dedication to creating inclusive programs that address diverse needs and barriers.
Ability to connect with graduates, understanding their challenges and aspirations.
Flexibility to adjust programs based on participant feedback or organizational needs.
Creative solutions to overcome resource constraints or participant barriers.
Responsibilities:
Design a comprehensive curriculum of professional development services, including resume writing, interview skills, job search strategies, and workplace professionalism.
Develop workshops, webinars, and training modules tailored to first-generation graduates’ needs, incorporating industry-specific skills (e.g., tech, healthcare, trades).
Integrate feedback from graduates and employers to ensure relevance and impact.
Facilitate virtual and in-person workshops, career fairs, and networking events to connect graduates with employers and mentors.
Monitor participant progress, providing individualized support (e.g., mock interviews, career counseling).
Collaborate with the Corporate Partnerships Liaison to secure employer partners for job placements, internships, or sponsorships.
Work with the Marketing Specialist to promote programs via social media, newsletters, and the website.
Engage with NJ colleges, trade schools, and community organizations to recruit participants.
Develop metrics (e.g., job placement rates, participant satisfaction) to assess program impact.
Collect and analyze feedback to refine curriculum and services.
Report outcomes to the board and funders, contributing to the annual impact report.
Ensure programs are accessible and inclusive, addressing barriers faced by diverse graduates (e.g., socioeconomic, racial, gender).
Incorporate culturally relevant content and support for underrepresented groups.
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Role Overview: The Young Adults Program Coordinator develops and implements a curriculum of services to support first-generation young professionals transitioning into adulthood, with a focus on life skills such as home buying, financial literacy, and personal development. This role collaborates with board members (e.g., Membership Liaison, Corporate Partnerships Liaison), community organizations, and financial institutions to deliver workshops, counseling, and resources.
Additional Qualifications:
Experience:
3+ years in program coordination, community education, or life skills training, preferably in a nonprofit, housing, or financial literacy setting.
Experience developing and delivering educational programs or curricula, ideally for young adults or first-generation populations.
Familiarity with NJ’s housing market, financial systems, or community resources (preferred).
Skills:
Ability to create engaging, practical training content tailored to diverse learners.
Strong presentation and group facilitation skills for workshops and events, both virtual and in-person.
Effective communication to build relationships with graduates, employers, and partners.
Organized approach to planning, executing, and evaluating programs, meeting deadlines and goals.
Competencies:
Passion for supporting first-generation young professionals and advancing Real Life Ready’s mission.
Dedication to creating inclusive programs that address diverse needs and barriers.
Ability to connect with graduates, understanding their challenges and aspirations.
Flexibility to adjust programs based on participant feedback or organizational needs.
Creative solutions to overcome resource constraints or participant barriers.
Responsibilities:
Create a curriculum of life skills services, covering home buying (e.g., mortgage basics, credit building), financial literacy (e.g., budgeting, debt management), and personal development (e.g., time management, wellness).
Design workshops, webinars, and one-on-one counseling sessions tailored to young professionals’ needs.
Incorporate input from participants and experts (e.g., financial advisors, realtors) to ensure practical relevance.
Facilitate virtual and in-person workshops, seminars, and support groups to teach life skills.
Coordinate partnerships with financial institutions or housing agencies to provide expert-led sessions or resources.
Offer personalized guidance (e.g., financial planning sessions, home buying consultations) to participants.
Work with the Corporate Partnerships Liaison to secure sponsors (e.g., banks, real estate firms) for program funding or in-kind support.
Collaborate with the Marketing Specialist to promote programs through social media, newsletters, and community events.
Engage NJ community organizations, housing authorities, and financial literacy programs to recruit participants and resources.
Develop metrics (e.g., financial literacy improvement, home ownership rates) to measure program success.
Collect participant feedback to refine curriculum and delivery methods.
Report outcomes to the board and funders, contributing to the annual impact report.
Ensure programs are accessible and inclusive, addressing barriers faced by diverse graduates (e.g., socioeconomic, racial, gender).
Incorporate culturally relevant content and support for underrepresented groups.