Volunteer Opportunities

Board Member – Three Year Term

General Position Overview

The mission of the African Library Project (ALP) is to change lives book by book, together with partners in Africa and North American volunteers, to create, improve and sustain libraries in African communities. We are a growing, primarily volunteer-based non-profit.

The role of the Board: The Board of Directors is the highest leadership and governance body of the organization. To fulfill its fiduciary duties, the ALP Board is responsible for setting the mission and strategic objectives of the organization; selecting and evaluating the performance of the Executive Director; fundraising and resource development; approving and monitoring programs and services; enhancing the organization’s public image; establishing good governance policies and ensuring compliance.

Expectations of Individual Board Members: Our Board members are expected to: know the organization’s mission, policies, programs and needs; faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements; serve as active advocates and ambassadors for the organization; engage in identifying and securing the resources and partnerships necessary for African Library Project to advance its mission; give a meaningful personal donation (monetary or in-kind); help identify resources that can benefit the organization’s fundraising and public standing; prepare for, attend and conscientiously participate in board meetings; participate fully on one or more committees.

Our Board of Directors consists of talented, energetic professionals who volunteer their efforts. We share a passion for education, books, literacy, global development, and Africa. The ALP Board is committed to expanding diversity at all levels of the organization and creating inclusive processes and opportunities for dialogue and joint program development with our African partners. Board members may reside anywhere in the world if they are able to have access to fulfill their board responsibilities.

We are seeking for 4 board members who share these interests, bring their unique perspectives, and have one or more of the following skills and expertise: Development, Donor Relations, Grants, Fundraising, Legal, Finance, Marketing/Public Relations/Communications, Board management and governance, Engagement with African communities (strongly preferred), International development, Library work, and Literacy education.

About ALP: African Library Project is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to expanding opportunities by creating spaces that nurture literacy. We create and improve small libraries in African communities that have had limited access to literary materials. Since 2005, our organization has established over 3,860 libraries in schools and communities across 13 African countries. That’s over 4 million books! We are a growing non-profit guided by values of partnership, involvement, and sustainability. We currently work in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, and Uganda. African Library Project is proud to partner with outstanding organizations and individuals who are dedicated to promoting literacy and library development in Africa. In the United States and Canada, volunteers organize book drives and raise funds to ship the books overseas. Once those books are gathered and mailed, African Library Project relies on a network of dedicated partners within Africa to get them to each community – no matter how far. In addition to selecting and vetting each library recipient, our trusted partners provide training on how to set up and run a library in a rural community. Together, we evaluate the use of our libraries, measure our impact, and share in developing best practices. The African Library Project’s goal is to make sure our libraries remain active and continue to enrich those who need them the most. Learn more about us at: www.AfricanLibraryProject.org

Time Commitment: 10 hours/month, quarterly virtual Board Meetings on Saturdays (3 hours – 12-3pm ET / 3x a year – Feb, Apr, Nov), Committee Meetings (2-3 hours/month), Annual Retreat (Weekend, 1.5 days, Aug/Sept)

Term: June 2024 – June 2027

To apply, please send your resume of relevant experience and a cover letter to Brandon Pezzino at Execdir@africanlibraryproject.org.