For Board Members – Arts For Learning Indiana

Welcome Board of Directors!

Elevator Speech

Arts for Learning engages children with the arts by bringing teaching artists into schools and communities. We believe in the arts and their ability to transform education. Studies show that when learning is enriched with the arts, students get more out of school.

Arts for Learning offers programs in various forms – including performances, hands-on workshops, and in-depth residencies. Our programs integrate the arts with the curriculum to supplement learning.

Our programs occur wherever learning takes place, including afterschool programs, libraries, community centers, juvenile detention facilities, and hospitals.

Responsibilities

Participation

We, Arts for Learning, the Indiana Affiliate of Young Audiences, need the full participation of our Board to fulfill our mission and to guide, govern, and set policy in an ethical and thoughtful way. We ask Board members to:

Attend at least 4 of the 6 bi-monthly Board meetings
Volunteer for at least 2 Arts for Learning events each year
Respond to communications from and with other Board members and staff
Serve on at least one Board committee/task force
Represent the organization and engage new people at one program event per year (school performances and residencies, community program events)
Cultivate donors and friends for the organization

Financial Participation

Arts for Learning seeks a major portion of its contributed income from foundation sources. These funding sources often encourage or even require that the Board of Directors have 100% giving participation; that is, that each Board member makes an annual gift to the organization, and a capital gift, if a campaign is in progress. The following are the Arts for Learning financial participation requirements:

Annual Gift: All Board members shall make a substantial annual gift each year. One thousand ($1000) dollars is suggested. Monthly payment plans are accepted. The annual gift commitment shall be received by September 30 of each calendar year. The annual gift shall be received by June 30 of the fiscal year.

Solicitation: Board members will seek, on behalf of Arts for Learning, resources to support annual operations and special events or campaigns by suggesting individual or corporate donors for cultivation and potential solicitation by the Development Committee.

Advocacy and Cultivation

An effective Board member will:

Be a public representative of the organization in the community.
Bring friends and business connections to the organization.
Share expertise and talent with Arts for Learning for the good of the organization.

What does Arts for Learning provide in return?

The opportunity to have a real and positive impact on the community we serve.
The highest quality of artistic and educational programs offered to Indiana schools and communities.
A receptive and professional staff to support the efforts of Board members.
Candid and timely communication.
Membership in a congenial community of arts and education appreciating individuals.

Committees

To join any of these committees, email the respective Chair.

Executive Committee

Chair: Tami Earnhart

Vice Chair: Charlie Schlegel, Secretary: Susan Gee Oliver, Treasurer: Allison Meta

The Executive Committee consists of the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

The primary responsibilities of the Executive Committee:

Serves as a sounding board for management on emerging issues, problems and initiatives
Provides leadership at Board of Directors meetings and Board of Directors Retreats
Reports to the full Board on official decisions and actions that do not require a full Board vote
Reviews executive performance and compensation

Finance Committee

Chair: Allison Meta

Members: Sara Lootens

The primary responsibilities of the Finance Committee:

Oversees management of organization-wide financial assets
Reviews investment policies and strategies
Reviews financial results
Ensures the maintenance of an appropriate business plan
Reviews and recommend approval of an annual operating budget

Board Governance Committee

Members: Tami Earnhart, Susan Gee Oliver

The primary responsibilities of the Board Governance Committee:

Identifies and recommends qualified candidates to the Board of Directors for the Arts for Learning Board and Committees
Advises the Board with respect to the Board terms, composition, procedures and committees
Develops and recommends to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the organization

Development Committee

Chair: Kate Appel

Members: Sara Lootens, Kelly Teller, Lisa Boncosky

The primary responsibilities of the Development Committee:

Approves the organization’s annual fundraising goals
Raises financial and other resources for Arts for Learning
Assists Board members in their own fundraising efforts
Recruits potential individual and corporate donors
Assists staff in planning fundraising events
Supports planned giving goals

Marketing & Advocacy Committee

Chair: Todd Clevenger

Members: Sarah Walter, Sara Beanblossom (non-Board member)

The primary responsibilities of the Marketing & Advocacy Committee

Increases the profile and awareness of Arts for Learning
Increases awareness of the mission, vision and values of the organization
Oversees a marketing plan to raise earned revenue by promoting Arts for Learning programs
Develops strategies on how to communicate Arts for Learning’s message to potential donors
Accelerates engagement in public policy and builds a collective awareness of the value of arts in education
Plans strategies for being an effective voice for issues that matter to the organization and the people served

Programology Committee

Chair: Charlie Schlegel

Members: Tami Earnhart, Susan Michal, Anne Surak, Sue Blackwell (non-Board member), Daphne Chiu, Dorene Rodriguez Hoops

The primary responsibilities of the Programology Committee:

Researches new and innovative arts in education practice that connects the arts to STEM, core curricula, and 21st Century Skills
Reviews, assesses, and recommends relevant and high quality programs
Approves policies and procedures for the teaching artist roster
Assists with artist auditions, mentoring, assessment and professional development
Supports the staff with the planning and implementation of Creativity Fest
Facilitates the adjudication of the annual Anna Award for teaching artists

Audit Committee

Chair: Jim Chesterfield

Members: Bob Brafford (non-Board member)

**committee not open to current Board members

The primary responsibilities of the Audit Committee are to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of:

The integrity of financial statements
Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
Independent auditors’ qualifications
The performance of the organization’s internal audit function
Management of market, credit, liquidity and other financial and operational risks