Board Member

Home on Whidbey: Community Land Trust (HOW) is seeking board members to join our team at an exciting juncture. This spring we hired Executive Director Amy Wheeler, who brings extensive nonprofit leadership experience, including 17 years as Hedgebrook’s Executive Director and board member, and decades serving nonprofits on the East and West coast on staff, on boards and as a consultant.

HOW’s mission is to meet Whidbey Island’s crucial need for permanently affordable home ownership, based on the time-honored CLT model. With a strategic plan in place and early-stage funding secured, we are poised to launch our first housing projects in 2026-27. Currently a 5-member board, we plan to grow to 9 members over the next 18 months.

Guiding Principles: Our board that reflects the community HOW serves – balancing lived and learned experience, professional expertise, wide ranging relationship networks and community connections.

Values: Our values are grounded in collaboration, clear communication, equitable practices, a commitment to thoughtful processes, with respect for diverse perspectives. We create a working environment that fosters creativity, where serving HOW is energizing, inspiring and enjoyable for all involved.

Governance model: A CLT governance model relies on a democratic, tripartite board divided into three equal parts representing leaseholders, the surrounding community, and the general public interest. This structure ensures permanent affordability, local control, and shared decision-making.

Who we are seeking:

• Mission affinity: People with a passion for affordable housing. We’re committed to ongoing education on the CLT model and the complexity of housing issues at the local, state and national levels. We are excited by fresh perspectives, the wisdom of nonprofit service and the energy of emerging leadership, embracing innovative ideas.

• How we work: As a community-centered nonprofit HOW is collaborative and consensus driven, requiring the ability and willingness to listen well, be open to diverse perspectives, have patience with process, and build relationships based on mutual respect.

• Board’s primary focus: partnering with the Executive Director on financial oversight, fundraising, governance, and affordable housing projects.
  
  
• Expertise needed: nonprofit governance & leadership, financial management, policies and legislation related to housing affordability, environmental stewardship, DEI experience and perspective, owners of affordable homes.

• Community connections: social services (understanding community needs and strengthening vital support systems), education (knowledge of how housing issues impact youth, families and educational systems), policy & government (navigation of county, state and federal housing systems)

Location: We serve all of Whidbey Island. In person meetings are generally held on South Whidbey. Hybrid options are available for meetings.

Commitment: Board members participate in community engagement and education, relationship-building, resource generation, and supporting the work of our small staff team. 

Time commitment: Board meets once a month, in addition to committee work, special projects and events. Board meetings typically occur on the fourth Tuesday of the month (with flexibility), alternating each month between in-person and virtual. Depending on the need, volunteer hours range from 5 hours a month to 2 hours per week.

Contact: Amy Wheeler, Executive Director, [email protected]