Big Brothers Big Sisters of London and Area (BBBSOLA) is currently seeking up to 3 community-minded individuals to join our volunteer Board of Directors.
About BBBSOLA
BBBSOLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating life-changing mentoring relationships for children and youth facing challenges. Our mission is to empower young people to reach their full potential by connecting them with caring mentors. We serve children and youth in London and Middlesex County, especially those impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), racism, gender diversity, sexual orientation, and other systemic barriers.
At BBBSOLA, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Why Join the BBBSOLA Board?
This is a meaningful opportunity to help shape the future of an organization making a direct and lasting impact on youth in our community. As a board member, you’ll support the leadership of BBBSOLA during a time of growth and innovation.
The board uses a Policy Governance model, focusing on high-level strategy, accountability, and community connection. Directors do not manage day-to-day operations but provide vision, oversight, and support for the Executive Director and team.
We’re looking for individuals who:
- Believe in the power of mentorship
- Reflect the communities we serve
- Are committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation
- Are ready to listen, learn, and lead
- Have lived experience or work closely with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities
- Are racialized and/or from immigrant, refugee, or newcomer backgrounds
We Are Especially Encouraging Applications From People Who:
We recognize that many people belong to more than one of these groups and welcome applications that reflect the diversity of our community.
What’s Involved
Board members are expected to:
- Attend regular board meetings (Don’t worry — we take the summers off, so you still get to enjoy your patio season!)
- Participate in committees or working groups as needed
- Contribute to strategic planning and decision-making
- Help champion BBBSOLA’s mission and programs
Training and onboarding will be provided, especially for candidates new to board work or policy governance.
How to Apply
If you’re interested in joining our Board, please submit the following by February 20, 2025
- Board of Directors Application Form (found here)
- https://london.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/155/202...
- Letter of interest (questions provided)
- A Resume
Send your completed application package in confidence to board.london@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.
Subject line: Call for Nominations – BBBSOLA Board
Please see below:BBBSOLA - Background information or Candidates interested in joining the Board of Directors
If you have questions, feel free to contact Lisa McIntosh, Executive Director, at Lisa.McIntosh@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca
Thank you for considering this opportunity to help build a stronger, more inclusive future for young people in our community.
Warmly,
Cadence Baker
Chair, Board of Directors
Big Brothers Big Sisters of London and Area (BBBSOLA)
BBBSOLA
Background for Candidates interested in joining the Board of Directors
This document provides guidelines for board composition, attributes for policy governance and responsibilities for BBBSOLA Board of Directors that you should consider when deciding if you are a good candidate for the BBBSOLA Board of Directors.
1. Mission, Vision and Values:
We are looking for Directors who are committed to striving to achieve the Mission, Vision and Values of BBBSOLA CHC. BBBSOLA is committed to anti-racism and to being an agent of change that addresses systemic barriers to health and wellbeing.
Vision
All young people realize their full potential.
Mission
To enable life-changing mentoring relationships that ignite the power and potential and young people.
Local Mission
All young people facing adversity in London and Area who need a mentor or have a mentor.
Values
- Mission Aligned
- Champion Youth
- Champion Potential
- Resilient & Adaptable
Strategic Plan (2025-28):
BBBSOLAserves young people who face adversity and are in need of additional consistent and supportive development relationships in order to create greater social-emotional competence, improved mental health and well-being, and increased educational engagement and employment readiness.By creating the space for a mentor and mentee, BBBSOLA builds a developmental relationship that expresses care, encourages growth, provides support, shares power, and expands possibilities.
We strive to achieve the following outcomes:
1. Strengthening our Foundations:
We are an adaptable organization with focused, efficient, sustainable operations, governance and funding.
2. Putting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion into practice
We solidify our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) through meaningful actions and intentional practice.
3. Investing in Mentorship
We continually invest in our mentorship programs by actively recruiting mentors, reducing wait times for young people in need and increasing program accessibility to serve more participants.
4. Demonstrating our Impact
We are a trusted and recognized youth-serving organization in London and surrounding areas, championing mentorship programming as a vital service for children and youth through our research and data-driven approach to impact evaluation.
5. Elevating our Presence
We are a trusted top-of-mind charity in London and the surrounding areas.
2. Requirements for Directors:
Given the current attribute mix on the Board, the BBBSOLA Board of Directors is particularly looking for candidates who have lived experience or work with:
- gender diverse and member of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and/or
- racialized, immigrant, refugee communities
The BBBSOLA Board of Directors encourages applications from individuals who reflect this diversity. We acknowledge that one person could belong to more than one of these priorities.
1.0 Minimum Requirements for a director (as per bylaw):
1.1 Committed to the mission, vision and values of BBBSOLA
1.2 Minimum of 18 years of age.
1.3 Not an employee
2.0 Gender Mix
2.1 The board strives to have a mix of genders and recognizes and welcomes gender diversity. To understand the diversity of our board, the following data will be collected
2.2 Gender:
- Cisgender female/woman
- Cisgender male/man
- Genderqueer, gender non-binary or gender fluid
- Transgender female/woman
- Transgender male/man
- Prefer not to answer
- A gender not listed above
2.3 Sexual orientation
- Asexual
- Bisexual
- Gay/lesbian
- Heterosexual/straight
- Pansexual
- Queer
- Prefer not to answer
- A sexual orientation not listed above
3. Reflective and Inclusive of the people served by BBBSOLA including:
- 2SLGBTQIA+
- Immigrant, newcomers, refugees
1. Attributes for Individual Directors:
BBBSOLA is looking for the following knowledge, expertise and/or lived experience with every director:
- Advancing BBBSOLA: knowledgeable about and dedicated to the CCHC’s vision, mission, values and Ends (strategic directions);
- Commitment to being in service to the youth we serve
- Understands the Theory of Change.
2. Expertise of the Board as a whole:
These are attributes that not all individual Directors have but the board as a whole has it within its Directors.
- Policy Governance:experience of governance principles and practices or willing to learn
- BBBSOLA operates with a policy governance framework and is committed to this model.
- If you do not have experience in this model, appropriate training will be provided.
- Strategic Planning: experience of strategic planning processes
- BBSOLA has a current three-year Strategic Plan (2025-28)
- Financial Literacy:ability to understand the financial position of BBBSOLA as presented in its statements
- While we do not expect directors to be accountants, we anticipate that several directors will feel comfortable working with auditors
- It is an expectation that all Directors will gain confidence in reading financial statements.
3. Self-Reflection of Potential Director for a Policy Governance Board:
BBBSOLA is committed to a Policy Governance model. To see if you are the right fit for this model, please see below the attributes that describe the desirable Board attributes under policy governance.
Strategic Vision:
- Ability to see the big picture
- Ability to articulate a clear vision for the organization’s future and develop long-term and strategic plans aligned with the mission and values.
- Understanding of complex issues and the ability to identify key strategic priorities.
Policy Expertise:
- Thorough understanding of policy development processes, including identifying key issues, crafting effective policies and evaluating their impact
- Capability to analyze policy proposals, assess their impact and make informed decisions
Critical Thinking:
- Ability to analyze complex situations and information, identify potential risks and benefits, and make sound decision based on evidence and sound judgements
- Ability to effectively engage with moral owners in policy development processes.
Generative Thinking
- Ability to discern, frame, and engage in sense making and robust dialogue.
- Comfortable with ambiguity, constructive dissent and respectful challenge of ideas.
- Ability to keep a broad perspective and is open to new ideas.
- Open communicator and curious.
Delegation Skills:
- Comfortable working with an outcome focus (Ends) and not operational focus.
- Clear understating of the distinction between governance (policy setting) and management (executive)
- Ability to effectively delegate responsibilities to management while maintaining oversight and accountability.
Collaborative Leadership:
- Excellent communication skills to facilitate open discussion and consensus building among directors
- Ability to foster a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued
Ethical Conduct:
- Commitment to high ethical standards and transparency in decision making
- Ability to identify and address potential conflicts of interest
- Possess moral courage, willing and able to make hard decisions.
Accountability:
- Willingness to hold management accountable for implementing policies and achieve desired outcomes
- Active monitoring of performance metrics and key indicators
Adaptability:
- Ability to adjust to changing circumstances, new information and evolving organization needs while maintaining policy alignment.
Commitment to Governance:
- A dedication to actively participate in board meetings, review materials and contribute to ongoing policy evaluation and improvement.