FAQs for SAA Foundation Board of Directors Service

What is the SAA Foundation?  

Who is eligibility to volunteer for the SAA Foundation? 

What does service on the SAA Foundation Board of Directors entail? 

Who serves on the Board? 

How long would I serve? 

How many meetings are there? What is the time commitment? 

What kind of financial support does the Foundation provide? 

What process will my application go through? 

• Research and reporting about the profession, its practice, and its practitioners; 
• Development of professional growth opportunities; 
• Recognition of archivists via scholarships, travel assistance, and awards; 
• Programs to enhance access to specific collections, and the performance of repositories; and 
• Efforts to persuade influential external organizations to create or promote archives.
  

• SAA membership is not required for a position on the SAA Foundation Board of Directors or its component committees.  
• The experiences and skills necessary for these positions may differ significantly from those required for other SAA leadership appointments. 
• Complete and submit the self-nomination form by the due date. 
  

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• Board of Directors are expected to attend all SAA Foundation meetings, some of which occur virtually. Directors who are not able to travel to an in-person meeting are expected to participate virtually.  
• Because SAA Foundation work involves making financial grants and awards to individuals and institutions in a competitive process, as well as reviewing current and potential donations, Board of Directors are expected to maintain strict confidentiality about deliberations regarding awards and donor information. Board of Directors are required to complete a conflict-of-interest form annually. 
• Over the course of the year, significant Board of Directors tasks include approving and implementing the annual development/fundraising plan, approving grant and award recommendations, determining the annual budget, deliberating and approving an annual investment plan, deliberating changes to grant-making procedures, approving Board minutes and governing documents, approving a slate of new Board of Directors  for election by the SAA Council, and electing officers. 
• Board of Directors are expected to participate in the SAA Foundation's fundraising activities, including through making a personal financial gift at a level significant to them. There is no minimum or maximum contribution amount. By personally contributing at a level appropriate to the individual, a Board member recognizes their responsibility and demonstrates a commitment. 

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• Elected Directors are nominated by the SAA Foundation Bord of Directors, and are approved by the SAA Council 
• Emerging Professionals Directors are approved by the SAA Foundation Board of Directors 
•  Society Directors are SAA's elected officers (President, President-elect/Vice-President, and Treasurer), one SAA Council member elected by their peers to serve on the SAA Executive Committee (Executive Committee member), and the immediate past president of the society.  These Society Directors serve for the lenght of their term in that role. 
  

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• Elected Directors are elected for three-year terms.  
• Emerging Professionals are appointed for one-year terms and may apply for a second term. 
  

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• Board of Directors meets annually in Chicago for a 2-day hybrid fall meeting and virtually three times a year in winter, spring, and summer. 
• Board members should expect to spend an hour preparing for each hour of meetings, with additional time needed for short-term task groups. 
• All Board of Directors also are elected to serve on at least one of the following committees: the Governance Committee, Development Committee, the Finance Committee, the Grant Review Committee, or the National Disaster Recovery Fund for Archives Grant Review Committee. Service on committees requires additional time but does not impose additional travel obligations. 

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• The SAA Foundation does reimburse for the fall hybrid meeting; all reasonable travel costs incurred to attend the Board of Directors meeting.  
• The SAA Foundation does not reimburse for costs associated with attending any Board of Directors meetings virtually, including any meetings scheduled during the SAA Annual Meeting.
  

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• Applications received by the SAA Foundation office are reviewed for completeness by the staff and are then forwarded to the SAA Foundation Governance Committee.  
• The Governance Committee evaluates submissions to determine which applicants possess the qualifications and experience most needed by the SAA Foundation Board of Directors at that time.  
• The Governance Committee recommends a slate of new and/or continuing Board of Directors for review and approval by the full Foundation Board of Directors.  
• The approved slate is then forwarded to the SAA Council (the corporate member) for review and approval.  
• Approved new Directors will be informed by the SAA Foundation President (generally in early to mid-June), and they will be seated at the conclusion of the next SAA Annual Meeting. 

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