Proteus Fund

Call for Board Members

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About Proteus Fund

Proteus Fund connects philanthropy to the frontlines of social justice. We strive to advance the interconnected goals of racial, gender, queer and disability justice, and an inclusive, fully representative democracy.

To do our work effectively and with significant impact, Proteus Fund creates dynamic relationships between progressive philanthropists, movement leaders, and other allies that go far beyond transactional grantmaking. Our trusted position among funders and field actors enables us to support, both through collaborative grantmaking and other efforts, a broad array of strategies to achieve social justice victories. Our donor collaboratives are best-in-class models for bridging responsive philanthropy and cutting-edge social justice movements for deeper impact, aligning resources to address critical needs, and shaping strategy alongside our partners. Through our fiscal sponsorship program, Proteus Fund partners with initiatives, which play a powerful role in the larger ecosystem for social change, providing them with tailored and comprehensive organizational support.

To date, Proteus Fund, and its affiliated 501(c)(4) organization, the Proteus Action League, have distributed more than $300 million in grants, and provided other essential tools to support activists, advocates, networks, coalitions, and issue-specific campaigns at the local, state, and national level. Proteus Fund is headquartered in New York City, with staff based across the United States.

[Proteus Action League operates with a separate Board of Directors, while adding to the broader Proteus Fund community of leaders.]

Proteus Fund operates and pursues its work based on a set of values synergistic with our vision and mission:

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Integrity and professionalism
• Transparency and accountability
• Respect and humility

Learn more about Proteus Fund at: www.proteusfund.org.

Current Board of Directors

Proteus Fund is led by a group of leading experts in philanthropy, democracy, and social justice. The Board reaches across multiple arenas in the movement space, crossing racial and ethnic, generational, gender and sexual orientation lines. Each Board Member contributes their unique professional and lived experiences to the organization. A. Nicole Campbell serves as Board Chair, and Proteus Fund President, Paul DiDonato, serves as an ex-officio Board Member. 

Proteus Fund Board Members

• A. Nicole Campbell, Build Up Companies
• Nima Shirazi, Spitfire Strategies
• Rick Scott, Consultant
• Desiree Flores, General Service Foundation
• Tammy Dowley-Blackman, Tammy Dowley-Blackman Group
• Patricia Eng, Consultant
• Tia Oros Peters, Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples
• Risa Jaz Rifkind, Disability Lead
• Maria Teresa Rojas, Philanthropy Consultant
• Elizabeth (Betsy) Schmidt, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Everrette Thompson-Francoise, Freedom Together Foundation
• Eric K. Ward, Race Forward
• Paul Di Donato (ex-officio), Proteus Fund & Proteus Action League

Staff Leadership

Paul Di Donato (he/him/his) has been President and CEO of the Proteus Fund and Proteus Action League since 2016, after serving as the Director of Proteus Fund’s Civil Marriage Collaborative for eight years. His over 30 years of leadership includes work as a social justice activist, lobbyist, litigator, philanthropic and nonprofit executive, and Board Member working across many progressive issues and movements.

Board Service Opportunity

Proteus Fund is seeking new Board Members to offer their expertise in social justice movement work, philanthropy, and Board governance. The privilege of Board leadership comes with high expectations of time, engagement, and participation. The Board is currently seeking Members who will prioritize Proteus Fund engagement as one of their top volunteer activities. Board service includes:

• Strategic Insight: Board Members are expected to contribute to organizational leadership by actively sharing insight, wisdom, networks, and guidance around organizational governance and the social justice and democracy landscape.
• Ambassadorship: Board Members are asked to represent Proteus Fund externally, promoting messages and initiatives from the Fund and identifying opportunities to link their personal networks to the work of Proteus Fund, where appropriate.
• Committee Service: Included in Board responsibilities are Committee work, which allows Board Members to play a hands-on role in particular areas of organizational leadership.

Board Committees

• Governance Committee meets approximately two times per year, with expectations for greater time during incoming Board Member recruiting and interviews, as well as for specific governance-related concerns.
• Finance and Investment Committee is responsible for general oversight of the financial management and health of Proteus Fund on behalf of the Board. It meets approximately three times per year to carry out its mandate.
• Grants Committee reviews and approves specific grants, predominately via email, with meetings as needed.
• Audit Committee is responsible for audit oversight and meets at least twice per year for audit review.
• Executive Committee exercises the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of Proteus Fund between Board meetings, including oversight and guidance in emergencies. Executive Committee requires a significant time commitment, and regularly entails rapid response for time sensitive matters.

Board Member Profile

Proteus Fund Board Members bring a shared and sincere commitment to the social justice and democracy values of the Fund, as well as professional connection to progressive philanthropy and social change.

Compelling Board Member candidates will offer the following attributes and skills:

Professional Proximity to Proteus Fund’s Mission and Work

• Current or previous senior-level professional or significant volunteer role in social justice movements with demonstrated personal and professional commitment to democracy, gender and LGBTQ+ justice, reproductive justice, racial justice, and/or disability justice
• Experience serving on an active and engaged Board of Directors for a social justice organization
• Understanding of the power of transformational philanthropy and the role that intermediaries and fiscal sponsorship play in the philanthropic ecosystem
• Understanding and appreciation of the current regulatory environment and compliance impacting nonprofit organizations

Commitment to Contribute and Collaborate

• Time and energy capacity to serve as an active and engaged contributor, with desire to evolve into Board leadership during the course of Board tenure
• Collegial, respectful, and collaborative working style that seeks to build partnerships and consider differing or underrepresented opinions

Board Service Commitments

Term Structure

Board terms last for three years. Directors may be elected to succeed themselves and may serve for up to three consecutive three-year terms. New Board Members are being selected for a term that begins in fall 2025.

Meetings

There are four Board meetings every year, with two taking place in-person. The location of in-person meetings shifts throughout the country, taking Board Members’ locations into consideration when selecting venues.

• Board Members are expected to commit to attendance at all Board meetings, including travel time and approximately two hours of preparation time before meetings.
• Virtual Board meetings (twice per year) typically last 2-3 hours and in-person meetings (twice per year) last 1.5 days.
• Committee meetings generally take place in regular one-hour conference/video calls with about one hour of preparation in advance and 30 minutes to one hour of follow-up after meetings.

Committees

Each Board Member must serve on at least one or more of the following committees: Audit, Finance, Grants, Governance, or Executive, as well as periodic Task Forces.

Financial

There is no financial obligation on the part of Board Members nor is there an expectation to bring new funding to Proteus Fund.

This is an unpaid, volunteer board opportunity. Directors are reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses related to attendance at in-person Board Meetings.

Selection Process

Do Good Connections will accept interest on behalf of Proteus Fund, which can be shown with the submission of a resume and letter of interest that outlines alignment with the Board profile.

Materials submitted by June 16th will be prioritized and materials submitted after June 30th will not be considered for this application period.

Do Good Connections will guide applicants through a screening process to understand their interest and the contributions they would be able to make. Select candidates will be invited to participate in an interview with members of the Governance Committee.

Please share questions with Melissa Madzel at applications@dogoodconnections.com. We also welcome your recommendations of others who may align with these qualifications.

Commitment to Representation

As Proteus Fund looks to expand its commitment to underrepresented voices in its governance and leadership, people of color, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ communities are highly encouraged and welcome to apply.

About Do Good Connections

Do Good Connections is a boutique talent advisory firm led by Melissa Madzel that connects visionary leaders with transformative expertise to executive and governance roles in the social justice sector. Learn more about Do Good Connections at www.dogoodconnections.com.