Board of Directors

The AIDS Foundation's Board of Directors governs the organization and sets the priorities that determine the Foundation's services. The board has a responsibility to make sure limited resources are spent effectively, efficiently and with the greatest impact.

The 18 members of the board are all volunteers. Each has been deeply and personally affected by the epidemic--almost all have lost a lover, husband, sister or brother to AIDS. The board's membership includes people who are gay and straight, men and women, people of color and white, HIV-positive and HIV-negative, affluent and low-income. The board is proud of its diversity, yet understands it does not speak for everyone.

The Board of Directors gathers information from the community in a variety of ways -- public testimony, presentation to the board at board meetings, formal research and one-to-one meetings with organizations and individuals. The latter method offers both the board and community members an opportunity to engage in longer, more thoughtful discussions about issues of substance, including the work of the Foundation. We certainly welcome attendance and testimony at public board meetings; however, meeting time is limited and given the structure of the meeting itself, other venues might offer better opportunities for more thoughtful and meaningful discourse.

2007 Meeting Dates

The Board's two designated public meetings in 2007 were on Tuesday, August 21 (5:30pm) and Thursday, November 8 (5:30pm).

Meetings take place at the AIDS Foundation office, located at 995 Market Street at Sixth, in the Main Conference Room on the second floor.

Public Attendance at Board Meetings

Members of the public are welcome to attend regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors. Meeting schedules are set annually in January and are available by request. Individuals wishing to attend must notify the Board Chair at least 24 hours prior to the meeting by telephone (at 487-3067). The request should include the name of the individual wishing to attend and a contact phone number. The Board Chair will review the request and contact the individual prior to the commencement of the meeting.

Public Testimony at Meetings of the Board of Directors

Members of the public are welcome to address the Board of Directors. We would appreciate as much advance notice as possible and will accept requests up to 48 hours prior to the commencement of the meeting. In addition, the following steps must be followed:

1. Notify the Board Chair in writing or by telephone (at 487-3067) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting;
2. Include in the request the topic and the time needed to present the information to the Board along with a contact phone number;
3. The Chair, and when possible The Executive Committee of the Board and/or members thereof, will review the request and, when appropriate invite members of the public to present to the Board;
4. If such request is deemed inappropriate, the Board Chair will attempt in a timely manner to identify an alternative form of communication with the organization.
   

Community Outreach by the Board of Directors

During the year, members of the Board of Directors will regularly meet with members of the public who demonstrate an active, determined commitment to hasten the end of the pandemic and to promote the basic human rights and well-being of people affected by HIV disease. Individuals and organizations wishing further information and/or involvement in community outreach with SFAF board members should contact the Chair of the Board.

Recruitment of New Directors

General Recruitment Information

SFAF seeks individuals to serve on the board of directors who demonstrate an active, determined commitment to hasten the end of the pandemic and to promote the basic human rights and well being of people affected by HIV disease.

The Board of Directors of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation continually accepts nominations to its board from a variety of sources to ensure broad community representation and a full complement of skills necessary to fulfill the agency's mission which is to hasten the end of the pandemic and human suffering caused by HIV. Interested individuals should possess and have demonstrated in prior community or professional service many of the following skills and characteristics:

• Commitment to the agency's mission
• Strong communication and listening skills
• Intelligence
• Thoughtfulness
• Analytical and critical thinking skills
• Principled behavior
• Strategic thinking and problem solving
• Visionary thinking
• Group process oriented
  
• Prior non-profit board service
• Interest in or knowledge of HIV/AIDS issues
• Interest in or experience with private philanthropy
• Prior community service

The 18 members of the board are all volunteers. Each has been deeply and personally affected by the epidemic. The board's membership includes people who are gay and straight, men and women, people of color and white, HIV-positive and HIV-negative, affluent and low-income. The board is proud of its diversity, yet understands it does not speak for everyone. The board seeks to maintain and build upon its diversity and to reflect ongoing changes in the HIV/AIDS pandemic and encourages individuals of all backgrounds to apply.

Persons wishing to volunteer on the board should be able to commit 6-10 hours per month on agency business as well as assist in raising funds. Specifically, individuals must be able to:

• Attend all regularly scheduled board meetings
• Serve on one board committee and attend that committees monthly meetings
• Attend agency functions and fundraising events
• Make a personally meaningful annual gift to the agency as well as participate in direct solicitation as directed by staff
• Represent the agency's mission and the Boards decisions

Nominations

Nominations may be made in writing or during the public comment section of the two public board meetings during the year. The board requires that a letter of interest and a resume accompany all nominations. Interested candidates should contact Christopher Esposito, the Chair of the committee on Directors at (415) 487-3067.

Contacting the Board of Directors

Email: board@sfaf.org
Phone: 415/487-3067