Volunteer Positions

Title: Organizing Collective Board (OCB) – Board Treasurer

About the position:

The Organizing Collective Board of BLUU provides leadership for the organization. This is an egalitarian structure that operates as a collective, building consensus in creatively solving problems and maximizing impact. This role is a volunteer position with some expectation of financial contribution to the organization.

The Treasurer is responsible for keeping focus on the financial position and representing that position in decision making. The focus of this position is on truth telling and transparency so that the organization is making informed decisions and all relevant stakeholders feel comfortable that the fiduciary responsibilities of the organization are being upheld in line with the values of the organization.

This role is expected to:

• Provide regular updates to the Board (and Staff/Director) on financial status/concerns. (Identify and flag trends, internal and external.)

• Manage and advise on financial strategy
  1. Investment strategy
  2. Fundraising goals
• Provide regular budgetary support to staff
  1. Advise on budget line items
  2. Flag when over budget
• Manage the annual audit
• Represent budgetary concerns and perspectives in OCB decision making
• Manage and liaise with the Financial Transparency Group

Scope:

• Financial statements and reporting for:

1. Organizing Collective Board
2. BLUU Staff
3. BLUU wider community
4. UUA and other partners

• Endowment management

Responsibilities:

• Represent the financial aspects of BLUU on the OCB and externally
• Manage performance by providing feedback to staff and peers
• Support fundraising efforts
• Model and uphold the BLUU working agreements
• Provide other organizational support as needed
• Spend an average of 12-20 hours per month on BLUU work

Qualifications

Required:

Who:

• Black identity—much of BLUU’s work is supporting Black sacred space
• Previous financial experience in a corporate or no profit environment

What:

• Commitment to BLUU’s mission and values
• Commitment to BLUU’s principles and our established Working Agreements
• Willingness to advance strategic goals and outcomes established by BLUU’s Organizing Collective Board
• Compliance with all operating policies and procedures of BLUU
• Knowledge of Unitarian Universalist principles and values

How:

• Can separate BLUU interests from personal and professional interests in order to represent BLUU in UU spaces
• Self-motivation and flexibility
• Strong interpersonal skills, commitment to a collegial work style, and mutual accountability
• Ability to work with people with diverse identities related to class, race/ethnic, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and disability
• Ability to work as part of organizational teams on special projects
• A sense of humor
• A spirit of curiosity and patience with developing a new organization

Preferred:

• Previous board experience
• Financial credentialing—CPA, MBA, etc.
• Experience strategic planning
• Commitment to continuous improvement

Give/Get Expectation

A give/get policy is a requirement that all directors on the organization’s board either “give” and/or “get” a certain fundraising goal for the organization. For organizations with a “give or get” policy, each director can either donate the required amount or raise the desired amount through fundraising activities.

BLUU aligns with valuing contributions in many forms. We seek Board members who are able to share their Time, Talents, and Treasure. While the OCB does not set a standard donation requirement, we do expect that Board members will invest in the organization at a level that is meaningful for them, both to model for other stakeholders and to demonstrate commitment. However, we do not want this expectation to be a hardship and/or to deter interested people from applying for the role, as we honor all the ways that people can contribute to BLUU’s work. 

How to Apply

If you are interested in being BLUU’s Treasurer, please complete this form.

If you have questions about the Treasurer role, email BLUU Development Board Chair, Natasha Walker, at [email protected].

About Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU)

Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) is a spiritual community for Black Unitarian Universalists and for Black people who also have liberatory values. BLUU is committed to expanding the power and capacity of Black UUs within Unitarian Universalism; providing support, information, and resources for Black Unitarian Universalists; and justice-making and liberation for Black people through our faith. BLUU creates transformative experiences for Black people through worship, spiritual care, organizing, youth ministry, and other opportunities for social and spiritual connection. BLUU is Black founded, Black-led and centers Queer Black leadership in all that we do. 

BLUU’s work puts Blackness at the center of Unitarian Universalism. BLUU gives a spiritual home to Black people who have roots in many traditions but share values that all support Black liberation and self-determination in spiritual communities and beyond. Since BLUU’s inception, BLUU has held in-person convenings, organizing campaigns, and monthly worship. BLUU evolved from an informal gathering of Black UUs in 2015 to a thriving 501c3 organization.

BLUU is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ persons and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

For more about BLUU, visit BlackLivesuu.org.

About the position:

The Financial Transparency Group of BLUU provides fiduciary oversight (transparency, support, and community accountability) for the organization. 

The goals of this group are:

1. To support transparency around financial expenditures and plans.
2. To advise on investment strategy and revenue optimization
3. To help build trust within the BLUU community and the wider UU community. 
4. To evaluate how the BLUU budget expenditures are matching up with the working goals of BLUU. 

The group meets once virtually every month. There will be approximately 15-30 minutes of associated reading material and preparation before each meeting. At this time, pre-reading for the meeting is the only request for prep time outside of  meeting together. BLUU asks Financial Transparency Group members to also help share materials from BLUU to your networks through social media and other avenues that you have access to that you feel will be helpful.

Financial decision-making responsibility regarding BLUU’s finances will remain with the Organizing Collective Board (OCB). This Financial Transparency Group is advisory and will not have a board-like relationship to BLUU in the sense that involves oversight of our structure or control of finances. This Group is not a voting body. The group is a group that will give thoughts, feedback and insights to the Treasurer, who will relay them to the OCB and whose feedback and insights will be taken into account in decisions regarding funding allocation (budgeting).

About Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU):

Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) is a spiritual community for Black Unitarian Universalists and for Black people who also have liberatory values. BLUU is committed to expanding the power and capacity of Black UUs within Unitarian Universalism; providing support, information, and resources for Black Unitarian Universalists; and justice-making and liberation for Black people through our faith. BLUU creates transformative experiences for Black people through worship, spiritual care, organizing, youth ministry, and other opportunities for social and spiritual connection. BLUU is Black founded, Black-led and centers Queer Black leadership in all that we do. 

BLUU’s work puts Blackness at the center of Unitarian Universalism. BLUU gives a spiritual home to Black people who have roots in many traditions but share values that all support Black liberation and self-determination in spiritual communities and beyond. Since BLUU’s inception, BLUU has held in-person convenings, organizing campaigns, and monthly worship. BLUU evolved from an informal gathering of Black UUs in 2015 to a thriving 501c3 organization.

For more about BLUU, visit BlackLivesuu.org.

Responsibilities:

We are inviting 5-8 people to serve for a two-years commitment on the Financial Transparency group. The group will be responsible for:

• Meeting with the BLUU OCB Treasurer to go over prepared financial statements;
• Assisting with the sharing out of publicly prepared financial statements;
• Working with the Treasurer to field questions from the broader Black UU community surrounding issues of transparency and financial stability; and
• Supporting the BLUU OCB and staff in understanding and exploring the financial intricacies of our unique organizational structure.
• Model and uphold the BLUU working agreements
• Other organizational support as needed
• Expect volunteers to spend 2-4 hours per month, on average

Qualifications

Required

• What
  • Financial experience (Corporate or non profit)
  • Commitment to BLUU’s mission and values
  • Commitment to BLUU’s principles and our established Working Agreements. 
  • Willingness to advance strategic goals and outcomes established by BLUU’s Organizing Collective Board.
  • Can separate BLUU interests from personal and professional interests in order to represent BLUU’s financial interests
• How
  • Knowledge of Unitarian Universalist principles and values
  • Ability to work with people with diverse class, race/ethnic, sexual orientation, gender identity, and differently-abled experiences.
  • Ability to work as part of organizational teams on special projects.
  • A sense of humor.
  • A spirit of curiosity and patience with developing a new organization.

Preferred

• Previous Non profit Board experience
• Experience strategic planning
• Commitment to continuous improvement

How to Apply

To apply to be a member of the Financial Transparency Group, please fill out this form.

If you have questions about the Financial Transparency Group, email BLUU Developmental Board Chair, Natasha Walker, at [email protected].

Environment

BLUU is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ persons and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.